Wizard (character class)

The Wizard is a magician character class in many role-playing games and computer role-playing games. Wielding magic, wizards are often very powerful and potent characters, they also appear to be the mentor to the main character. Primarily based on wizards from fantasy literature, this type of character class is sometimes described by the terms Magician, Magic User, Mage or Sorcerer.

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons has two character classes that could be considered wizards, wizard and sorcerer.

Wizard

Main article: Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)

The wizard is a student of arcane magic, who has studied it for years, practicing until able to command arcane magic with ease. The wizard must prepare spells every day, and when cast, the spell leaves the wizard's mind.

Sorcerer

Main article: Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)

The sorcerer is a natural arcanist, who usually claims dragon ancestors as the source of magical power. The sorcerer knows a limited number of spells per day, and need not prepare them daily. The sorcerer is also able to cast more spells per day than a wizard of comparable level.

Final Fantasy Series

The wizards of the Final Fantasy series are known as mages. There are multiple types of mages:

• Black Mages, mages who practice offensive magic.
• Red Mages, mages who are jack-of-all-trades.
• White Mages, mages who practice healing magic.
• Blue Mages, mages who copy enemy abilities.

In the original Final Fantasy, the Black, Red, and White Mages would eventually be converted to more powerful Black, Red, and White Wizards, respectively. Additionally, in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, a wizard refers to a Black Mage wearing his Artifact Armor.

World of Warcraft

Main article: Mage (World of Warcraft)

Wizards in World of Warcraft, called mages, are spell-casting characters designed to deal damage, while also preventing monsters from dealing damage and providing utility for the rest of their party. In return for their ability to deal large amounts of ranged damage, mages are very poor at physical combat, they wear the weakest of all armor types, and they have no ability to heal themselves.

Ragnarok Online

In the Ragnarok Online MMORPG, Magicians who acquire enough experience are given the choice of becoming a Wizard. Wizards are powerful spellcasters and have access to a wide array of area of effect spells, including some of the most powerful ones, such as Storm Gust or Meteor Storm, making them excellent damage dealers. However, they have very few hit points, very poor evasion capabilities and can only wear some of the weakest armor types available. As such, most of them require the support of a Priest and/or other party members. Wizards are also one of the staples of any large defense during a guildwar and a well equipped Wizard can also prove helpful on the offense.

Other Games

• Lineage II, Mage is one of the character choices available to every race but dwarf, and Wizard is a class choice for the Human Mage's first class transfer.
• MapleStory, Magician is one of the 1st jobs available for players, on their 2nd job advancement they are called Wizards, on the 3rd - Mages and on the 4th - Arch Mages.
• Bard's Tale, the wizard was only available as a class change from another magic-user class. The wizard class was the most advanced class level, with the character needing to master the third level of spells from at least two other magic-user classes.