Shield-Mage

"I have found one rule which works with health, nature, buildings and everything: better to protect it while it lasts than to repair it once it falls."
- Liryel Mornbreeze, a Shield-Mage
==Introduction to the Shield-Mage==
Shield-Mages (alternative plural Shield-Magi; also known as Warders) are spellcasters who excel in defensive magic. Instead of blasting their enemies to oblivion in combat, they use the powers of the Arcane to create magical and sometimes even concrete barriers to protect themselves from harm.
The origins of Shield-Magery date back to the First War. The Alliance was desperate to find a mean to repel the demonic magic used mainly by the Orcs, and during a war assembly, someone also brought forth an issue about the spellcasters: even though Mages could damage heavily the enemy troops and Priests save their own, they always faced in greatest risk in battle due to their usually poor combat prowess. If they were not kept mingled with other troops or closely behind them, they because almost useless, but if they were brought too close, the enemy could easily shoot or cut them down.
It was then that several mages of the Kirin Tor came up with the idea of training Mages who would be able to cast protective spells beyond a simple Mana Shield, and the suggestion sparked out great enthusiasm. Ever since, the number of Shield-Mages has remained relatively few but stable. They are most common amongst Humans and High Elves, but a few Blood Elves (and even less Gnomes) have taken interest in the path as well.
==The path of the Shield-Mage==
Spellcasters aspiring to become Shield-Mages need above all mental stability. They may have to stay (or go) closer to the danger than their more offensive brethren in order to protect as many as they can, and while holding up a magical shield, they are responsible for the lives of those inside it. If they falter, break down or run away, their barrier will be shattered, and thus they have to be able to brace themselves up for the most horrible sights on the battlefield and immediate risk.
Furthermore, not every Mage is fit for the task, as the creation and maintenance of magic shields and barriers usually require above average skill and the will to potentially even give up some of their combat spellcasting ability in order to hone their talents in protective magic. The training consists of both theory and practice, and as protective spells are best practised against actual enemies, the path of the Shield-Mage is by no means an easy or a very safe one.
A competent Shield-Mage is able to conjure barriers of magic in almost every imaginable form: walls of ice, tower shields made of molten steel (yet which don’t burn their wielder), dome-like translucent domes of pure Arcane. A single Shield-Mage is usually able to protect a handful of people, but their powers increase significantly when two or more of them a gathered together: a dozen of them can keep up with medium effort a shield which can repel projectiles as large as cannon ballsJudged from the fact that the Shield-Mages aboard the Alliance airship Skybreaker in Icecrown can cast a barrier to block the missiles from the Horde airship, Orgrim's Hammer (information found in Wowhead)..
==Suggested Representative Classes==
* Priest - With spells like Power Word: Shield and Power Word: Barrier, Discipline Priests are one of the best alternatives for roleplaying a Shield-Mage. They can emulate all combat abilities with their own offensive spells and/or trinkets
* Death Knight - The Unholy specialisation is almost ideal thanks to Anti-Magic Zone (plus the boosts to Anti-Magic Shell), but a Death Knight roleplaying as a Shield-Mage might have to downgrade their armour to cloth or leather in order not to appear too powerful or warrior-ish.
* Mage - The best alternatives for a Mage wishing to roleplay a Shield-Mage would probably be Frost because of Ice Barrier (also its boosts if one wishes to engage in real combat while roleplaying) or Arcane for Improved Arcane Explosion (used to simulate establishing/upholding a barrier). The other abilities could be simulated with either emotes or items/spells with somewhat suitable-looking effects, such as Armor spells and scrolls of protection.
==Shield-Mages of The Sha'tar==
==Roleplaying tips==
A Shield-Mage would quite likely wear clothing which is comfortable and easy to move around with, meaning that they would very likely prefer tunics and trousers to fancy robes while in duty. Some (i.e. Death Knights) might even go around wearing leather armour as it combines protection with mobility.
===Notes===
Category:Mage
Category:Roleplay Classes
Category:Guides
Category:Human
Category:Blood Elf
Category:Gnome