kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,436
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Apr 8, 2014 13:11:36 GMT
There are at least three FF characters referred to as Archmages: the Archmage of Mampang, Mordraneth and Globus. But what is an Archmage exactly? I doubt it's a formal qualification that can be obtained. Is it simply a name given to very powerful wizards? Is it just something that these guys called themselves? If so, it seems odd that there is an encyclopedia on Archmages in the Library of Limbo.
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Post by stevendoig on Apr 8, 2014 19:44:04 GMT
just tried wiki.
First referenced in a fantasy work in 1964 - by reading on one gets the feeling it was popularised by AD&D. Basically means 'The Pre-eminent Mage'
(though the fact there is more than one Archmage referenced in FF would mean that each Archmage is the outstanding Mage in a particular field of , erm , Mageship?
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Post by thealmightymudworm on Apr 9, 2014 11:47:43 GMT
Perhaps it's a mage who specialises in building work.
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Post by hynreck on Apr 14, 2014 14:16:59 GMT
Architecture Mage? Hmm. Indeed, they always live in such interesting places...
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Post by paltogue on Apr 14, 2014 19:48:15 GMT
There are at least three FF characters referred to as Archmages: the Archmage of Mampang, Mordraneth and Globus. But what is an Archmage exactly? I doubt it's a formal qualification that can be obtained. Is it simply a name given to very powerful wizards? Is it just something that these guys called themselves? If so, it seems odd that there is an encyclopedia on Archmages in the Library of Limbo. The Oxford English Dictionary defines the prefix 'arch-' as In titles of office, rank, or dignity: meaning, 'Chief, principal, -in-chief; superior, master-; one who occupies a position or rank above those who bear the simple title'
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,436
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Apr 15, 2014 11:58:36 GMT
Hmm, but then is there a hierarchy of mages and these three outrank all the other wizards on Titan? I suppose Mordraneth is pretty powerful, bearing in mind he can create an entire realm of illusion and can steal souls (though he doesn't seem particularly powerful when it comes to more conventional spells). But what about the other two? I don't remember either doing much in the way of extremely powerful magic.
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Post by paltogue on Apr 15, 2014 16:20:04 GMT
Hmm, but then is there a hierarchy of mages and these three outrank all the other wizards on Titan? I suppose Mordraneth is pretty powerful, bearing in mind he can create an entire realm of illusion and can steal souls (though he doesn't seem particularly powerful when it comes to more conventional spells). But what about the other two? I don't remember either doing much in the way of extremely powerful magic. Of course, these aren't very sensible inddividuals, so self-appellation is entirely possible.
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Post by a moderator on Apr 15, 2014 16:23:19 GMT
Globus wasn't on Titan. If the Ziggurat world is low on magic users, he wouldn't need to be all that powerful to outrank any others.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,436
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Apr 16, 2014 9:49:39 GMT
Probably - why can't they be humble like Razaak who could kick all their asses yet is fine with just being a necromancer? I didn't mean Globus was on Titan, I was simply comparing his power to the wizards on Titan. But I take your point that he could be an archmage compared to the wizards on his own world. The presence of the book on archmages in Limbo made me think it was more of a universal term than that though. Of course, I should probably just accept that Jackson, Martin and Darvill-Evans called their villains archmages because it sounded cool and leave it at that
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Post by vastariner on Apr 19, 2014 9:32:56 GMT
Think of archbishop. An archmage would be a super-mage. A ruler of mages. It's possible that The Three reported to him. Maybe a move to link the Northlands with Kakhabad.
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kieran
Baron
Posts: 2,436
Favourite Gamebook Series: Fighting Fantasy
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Post by kieran on Apr 23, 2014 14:38:40 GMT
Hmm, so you think the Demonic Three took orders from the Archmage of Mampang and/or Mordraneth? Doesn't seem their style.
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Post by vastariner on Apr 23, 2014 21:19:28 GMT
Not the Demonic Three, I was thinking of the Northlands sorcerers.
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