So I'm continuing this "series" of questions to get insight in to how members feel about their ideal versions of certain types of characters. First I asked about barbarians, so now I'm turning the focus to the opposite end of the spectrum: magic-users. This includes wizards, withes, witchers, mages, hybrid spell-casters, necromancers, pyromancers, etc. etc.
In the most basic terms a magic-user would be a character that uses magic. But how they use magic or how the writer incorporates magic into their world is important. Magic is often tied into fantasy worlds, sometimes in vast quantities (Lord of the Rings, epic fantasy) and other times in low quantities (sword and sorcery, low fantasy, some urban fantasy.)
My ideal magic-user:
1. I would say Geralt of Rivia (from the Witcher series of books/games) is my ideal magic-using character because he's a hybrid that uses his magic sparingly. I've always been a fan of characters who only use magic as a last resort instead of just hurling fireballs all over the place. His magic has a lot to do with charming and manipulating, which I find to be an interesting take. He also feels like a Jedi in some ways. He uses his magic at time when hunting monsters and with humans alike. A close second would be Quick Ben from the Malazan series, just because of how incredibly powerful he is. People are afraid of him, and I find that a quality in a magic-user that adds an aura to them.
2. If I were creating a magic-user character, I'd want them to be unique in some way. Using magic that may not be embraced so readily by readers. I've always been interested in the idea of magicians that only have one spell. For some reason I find that fascinating. If they only have one spell, then they have to be very creative how they use it. It's almost like X-Men mutant powers (they only have the one power usually). How they use it is what makes them unique.
3. I would absolutely want to include a magic-user character as one of my main characters. In fact, I have several magic-using characters as main characters in various things I've written. I want to approach magic in a different way though. Not entirely unique, but just not a standard lightning bolt slinging wizard on the top of a mountain. If I have a character that's a lightning bolt slinging wizard, then he needs something else to give him more depth. Maybe he really, really likes bunnies.
So what are your thoughts?
1. How would you write your ideal magic-user character?
2. What writer/writers do you think have done the magic-user character well?
3. Would you make a magic-user character a main character in your story/novel? Why or why not?
In the most basic terms a magic-user would be a character that uses magic. But how they use magic or how the writer incorporates magic into their world is important. Magic is often tied into fantasy worlds, sometimes in vast quantities (Lord of the Rings, epic fantasy) and other times in low quantities (sword and sorcery, low fantasy, some urban fantasy.)
My ideal magic-user:
1. I would say Geralt of Rivia (from the Witcher series of books/games) is my ideal magic-using character because he's a hybrid that uses his magic sparingly. I've always been a fan of characters who only use magic as a last resort instead of just hurling fireballs all over the place. His magic has a lot to do with charming and manipulating, which I find to be an interesting take. He also feels like a Jedi in some ways. He uses his magic at time when hunting monsters and with humans alike. A close second would be Quick Ben from the Malazan series, just because of how incredibly powerful he is. People are afraid of him, and I find that a quality in a magic-user that adds an aura to them.
2. If I were creating a magic-user character, I'd want them to be unique in some way. Using magic that may not be embraced so readily by readers. I've always been interested in the idea of magicians that only have one spell. For some reason I find that fascinating. If they only have one spell, then they have to be very creative how they use it. It's almost like X-Men mutant powers (they only have the one power usually). How they use it is what makes them unique.
3. I would absolutely want to include a magic-user character as one of my main characters. In fact, I have several magic-using characters as main characters in various things I've written. I want to approach magic in a different way though. Not entirely unique, but just not a standard lightning bolt slinging wizard on the top of a mountain. If I have a character that's a lightning bolt slinging wizard, then he needs something else to give him more depth. Maybe he really, really likes bunnies.
So what are your thoughts?
1. How would you write your ideal magic-user character?
2. What writer/writers do you think have done the magic-user character well?
3. Would you make a magic-user character a main character in your story/novel? Why or why not?