Wizard

**Wizard**, often called a **mage** along with the other arcane spellcasters, is a character class available to players in the *13th Age* fantasy tabletop roleplaying game ruleset. It is a part of the *13th* *Age* core ruleset published by Pelgrane Press. The wizard class is a part of the larger canon of character classes available to players in D20 Fantasy TTRPGs. Wizards are often considered masters of magic with them having studied the secrets of the arcane and putting together a grimoire to catalogue their magic, the wizard fulfills the role of a 'spellcaster' with a good mixture of spells to support an adventuring party in various modes of play.

In *WovenRealm*, Oleander was originally a wizard prior to her resurrection by Kierbeth's hands. She reobtains her wizardry in Season 5 after using Beginning and End to forge a new fate for the realms and rids herself of Blackheart's presence.

## Playstyle

### Role

The wizard is considered the original archetype of mages and spellcasters, and in *13th Age*, they continue to serve the role as the 'generalist spellcaster.' As arcane spellcasters, they boast a wide variety of spells that both have utility and combat functions. Compared to other spellcasters in the system, wizards seem to have an edge in terms of utility.

### Ability Score

Keeping in line with the tradition established since the inception of roleplaying games, Wizards rely on their Intelligence score to increase the power of their magic, seeing that their arcane mastery is obtained through rigorous study. Wizards may also take advantage from having decent Dexterity or Constitution scores as well to increase their survivability.

### Primary Mechanics

Gameplay for wizards appropriately centers around spellcasting. With this, wizards do not utilize the weapons or armor that warriors may utilize, but they make up for their lack of combat prowess with powerful magic. Cantrips, at-will minor magics now commonly recognized in d20 fantasy, are unique to the wizard class in *13th Age.* Wizards also have abilities that allow them to cast their limited spells more than they normally would be able to. Many of their spells resemble (if not straight up the) iconic spells seen in the wizard spellbook in other similar games such as *Acid Arrow, Color Spray, Fireball,* and *Haste.* Utility spells are another feature unique to wizards that allow them to swap out a standard spell for a spell that has utility purposes.

### Narrative & Background

The arcane spellcasting classes are often divided narratively between where they draw their magic from. In the case of wizards, they have spent great effort to study, learn, and practice magic to master the arcane arts. Students of magic make great wizard backgrounds with the ruleset also suggesting magical prodigy, spell thief, hedge wizard, transformed familiar, ship's wizard, and royal poisoner.

## In Previous Campaigns

Brynn and Sarryn of the Wrong Turns seen in *Agora's Bells* were both very talented wizards who had mastered their respective forms of magic.

## In Campaign

In *WovenRealm*, Oleander as a necromancer had often lamented the loss of the wizardry she had worked so hard to master prior to her death and resurrection. Oleander had studied for years at the Oprix Academy, mastering her craft, and even becoming employed by the academy, a connection that has been most advantageous for the Emerald Caravan. Oleander spent the majority of her time in the campaign as a necromancer, but after the events of S5E5: Triad of Fates when she reforged fate, without Blackheart's presence, Oleander's life was restored along with her wizardry and thus set her down the class path of wizard for the remainder of the campaign.

## Notes & Trivia

* Wizards in Evarencia mirror their tabletop counterparts and have learned to influence the arcane through study.
* The wizard has a clear *Dungeons and Dragons* analogue where they have their basis in the many mages, spellcasters, and wizards in fantasy stories such as Gandalf from *Lord of the Rings*.
* More specifically, wizard's gain their inspiration from the wise old man/woman mage often encountered in old chivalric tales, such as Merlin from legends surrounding King Arthur.
* When originally introduced to the canon, wizards were known as *magic-users* to avoid any specific connotations. In 2nd Ed *D&D*, the name was changed to *mage*, and eventually *wizard* was settled on as differences began to be expressed mechanically for mages.
* Wizard is often considered a part of the 'main 4' RPG character class archetypes along with the Fighter, Rogue and Cleric.
* Wizard is one of the 'original' and major 'character archetypes' of RPG character classes along with the Fighter and the Rogue.