What is the role of mages in their respective society? Are they analogous to scientists for us? Even though scientists exist in wow like gnomes and the royal apothecary society, mages work in a similar matter, using the science of the arcane to understand how the universe works.
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Outside of serving as battle soldiers for their respective factions, mages are outsiders, scarcely trusted.
Mages that are known to be rogue like Rhonin were historically treated with contempt and suspicion in the Alliance.
Jaina, Khadgar, Dalaran, the Highborne that were cheered for in Elegy, Draenei, Dark Iron, Gnomes…
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This is never reflected in any of the games.
I think one or two of the book writers really liked Dragon Age and its depiction of Mages, and they tried to work that into the setting, but it never really caught on.
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I think it really depends on the character. Sure, there could be some academic mages that are “scientists”.
I tend to dislike magic-science relationships a bit. The idea that mages could quanify exactly how much mana they have “oh, I have 1700 mana right now… that’s not enough to cast my spell” that’s… it’s just wrong to me.
I’m not Anti-science either. Alchemy is dope. Engineering is dope. I just like magic to be magic. idk why.
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I’d say they fit any number of roles. Scholar’s mostly. Studying the arcane and learning to use it’s power. They’d be the archetypical mage you’d see in Dalaran. The studious book nerd buried in ancient tomes and occasionally turning themselves into frogs. They’d take a scientific approach to studying the arcane, which for us is a little strange, but in-universe makes sense. Observe, hypothesize, test, analyze, report.
There might be more practically-minded mages which are basically just the magical equivalent of a tinker. Whereas a tinker turns to technology, one of these mages might not be so interested in researching and learning novel spells, but using what’s already known to solve problems.
Then, of course, there’s the battle mages who use their powers as soldiers.
For Thalassians and Shal’dorei, mages are very much part of the government, serving in higher-positions. In Quel’thalas, the Magisters are one of the three largest political groups, the other two being the Farstriders and the Blood Knights. Though, I remember reading somewhere (I can’t remember where, so this could definitely be head canon) that the nobility of Quel’thalas was almost entirely mages, and that it was somewhat scandalous that Lor’themar Theron, a lowly ranger, is running their city.
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Even in the books I think it only came up in Day of the Dragon, which was written pre-WC3 so a lot of stuff has changed since then.
There’s definitely no sign of mages being socially unaccepted in modern lore. And by modern I mean “anywhere since 2002”. Outside of night elves, anyway.
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I get the mindset from the night elves, or the dwarves. At least before the Cataclysm. But how could the humans, gnomes, and draenei distrust mages when we have warlocks and shadow priests running around?
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This question comes up to the devs fairly often. And pretty much their response boils down to this. “This is where lore gives way to gameplay.”
Keep in mind that a shadow priest not walking in public in shadowform gives no hint of thier true nature. Nor does a warlock who doesn’t insist on having their demon out constantly and flaunting it in public.
Varian incidentally brags about Warlocks being in the Alliance Army in War Crimes so Warlocks are no longer maligned by the Humans of Stormwind.
The Council of the Black Harvest as well as their leader sure succeeded in making Warlocks more welcome in Stormwind.
Warlocks are welcome in Stormwind society post-MoP and that was before the Illidari joined and the Legion was defeated. Warlocks are no longer despised by the Humans.
Shadow Priests of course would have presumably had to hide their Shadowform until Alleria acquired the Void Elves.
Snarky take time! There is no seriousness to be found here.
Mages in WoW society have many roles. Their main one, their reason for existing entirely, is of course portals. Many a hunter has tolerated the existence of mages, due to the great utility of a quick portal to a capital city, and it is such a skill that they earn their place.
Mages also have the unique distinction amidst the sentient races for their great skill at conjuring food for hunters and occasionally their pets. While hardly as useful as their portals, this talent can come in handy.
…
Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Mages exist to give me, and others as well, portals and snacks. It is why the night elves originally allowed them entry into Darnassus back in the pre-Cataclysm days. The long run from Darnassus to the lesser cities of Ironforge and Stormwind was fraught with danger, and thanks to the unwashed heathen mages, could be skipped.
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Was wondering why your profile makes you look larger than other elves.
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Such is the downside of allowing mages to exist; endless food, and more reasons not to walk places. Before I discovered ArcanaEats and PortalShare, I had to run from Durotar, up to Orgrimmar, take the airship to Undercity, then run from there through Western Plaguelands, down to Hillsbrad, back up to the Hinterlands, dodging angry dwarves and humans the whole way, just so I could get to my favorite fishing spot so I could catch a bite to eat.
Now I just tell a mage to gief fud nao plz. My cardio has gone to crap, and mage food is all empty carbs.
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I agree,
The concept of magic is supernatural whereas science is logic.
Only culture puts whatever emphasis it is, but Arcane is a force anyone can tap and it does require mental dedication but not like that of science
Yes, and there are arguments to be made whether arcane energies are natural on azeroth… and arcane can be harnessed into technologies like golems and guns and stuff. And to me, that’s science.
But if I’m conjuring a giant fireball by drinking a potion and saying some words- that’s magic.
why dont mages all just teleport enemies into the air so they fall and die instantly
Mainly because… they can’t.
Schoolars, Investigators and in some cases work with the ruling elite of the nation.
Although I will venture to say that in warcraft setting only a few select number of races have enough mages to cover those roles mentioned and the rest simple don’t interact with them at all(Taurens, KT) but with other types of magicians