Mage Specializations

Most mages choose a specialization and dedicate their life to it, rather than learning as many spells as possible

## Weapon Enchanters

Weapons enchanters often train in at least one martial art, and mainly rely on their weapons and armor, which they enchant using magic. Enchantments can include sharpness and durability enhancements. They can also be applied to non-combat related items, such as in transceivers that cover a larger distance. Enchantment levels are limited to the material of the enhanced items, with elven steel being one of the most coveted. Advanced levels also require more time and resources to complete. A skilled enchanter, like Daren, can cast enchantments that allow his sword to sever a mage's link to the magical plane or absorb elemental attacks. Even if the mage can no longer cast magic himself, the enchantments and spells previously cast on their items remain intact.

### Enchanter's Oath

After the blood of the person making the oath touches an enchanted item, he can specify its conditions and duration in a life-binding vow. If no duration is mentioned, the oath is permanent. The oath can be undone temporarily by the enchanter.

## Elementalists

Elementalists are mages born with an incredible talent for manipulating one of the four traditional elements: water, air, fire or earth. They are able to cast spells of their element with a greater flexibility than nonelementalists, but otherwise, have difficulty learning spells from books or other magic outside of their specialty. It is impossible to be born with an elemental affinity for the nontraditional elements: ice, acid or electricity, but it can be achieved as an artificial mage, such as Kate, Diane or Jason.

## Summoners

Summoners call other creatures to fight for them, such as golems or griffins, who are forced to obey their master. They tend to focus on defensive spells as a second specialty, since summoning leaves them vulnerable to surprise attacks. Summoning magic is typically associated with a burst of blue light in which the creature appears.

## Shapeshifters

Shapeshifters transform themselves into other creatures in order to attack their opponents. While this eliminates the vulnerability downside to summoning magic, shapeshifters are unable to cast any further spells while transformed. Shapeshifting is limited by the original body of the mage. It does not allow a person to grow much larger than their original form. Furthermore, they cannot change their appearance, but can only take on the form of other creatures. Hadrik, for example, transforms into a dragon with black scales, which matches his natural black hair color. It is possible to partially shapeshift individual body parts at the cost the mage's aura becoming unstable.

## Generalists

Rather than focusing on one specialty, generalists take on many spells from a variety of magical fields, which allows them a greater versatility in their spell casting. However, for an inexperienced mage, learning the basic versions of each spell can spread their magical energy too thin, since they cost more energy to cast compared to their advanced versions. A skilled generalist, such as Azarius or Brinhorn, can practically have an arsenal of most of the spell types in existence.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book 1 Chapter 3
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Book 2 Chapter 2
3. ↑ Book 2 Chapter 1
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Book 1 Chapter 7
5. ↑ Book 1 Chapter 10
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Book 2 Chapter 6
7. ↑ Book 2 Chapter 8
8. ↑ Author's comment
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Book 2 Chapter 10
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Book 3 Chapter 3