Name change for Wizard? [Archive] - Diablo 3 & Diablo 2 Forums

stillman

11-10-2008, 02:29

Here's what I don't get: Witchdoctor is very specific. Wizard is about as broad and non-specific as it gets. They're kind of all over the place...

See, barb is from d2, but WD and Wizard aren't from the old games. Again, it's pretty inconsistant.

Sooo....will it be "archer" or "toxopholite" (toxophilite means lover of archery). Will it be "priest" or "clergyman"?

Heck, maybe there'll be an undead elf class the way things are going.
Not complaining much; the wizard looks like great fun and good design. I'm just saying I see the point with the name choice. I would have prefered Spellbinder.

Would it hurt to have just a little consistancy and order to the classes like in d1 and d2?

Bertis

11-10-2008, 02:40

I actually really like it. "Wizard" is like a hardcore RPG name for a class. I definitely prefer it over Mage or Sorceress. Wizard is kinda lost in the old-school RPG days. And Harry Potter just raped it Spielberg/Lucas style.

konfeta

11-10-2008, 02:55

Sooo....will it be "archer" or "toxopholite" (toxophilite means lover of archery). Will it be "priest" or "clergyman"?

Or, you know, maybe the phrase "Wizard" doesn't mean the same thing as it does in other fantasy settings? They made it pretty clear that "Wizard" is almost a derogatory term in Sanctuary as opposed to the more generic "Mage" or specific denomination of a mage-clan member, "Sorcerer/Sorceress."

nicro tower

11-10-2008, 02:58

Technically, the wizard is the sorcerer, but from what I gather from the article on the website, "wizard" is the common term for "sorcerer".

And the word "wizard" is more gender neutral, unlike sorcerer, which is usually sorceress when feminine. The masculine and feminine for wizard is usually the same.

visom

11-10-2008, 04:24

I'd rather have "conjurer" instead of "wizard" ;)

konfeta

11-10-2008, 04:54

I'd rather not. Do you really want to see 9/10 players for this class with names like:

Tim
T1m
T|m
71M
TI/\/\
etc.

sprouting off Monty Python jokes every game?

MooCQ

11-10-2008, 08:40

wish they had called it Magician.. eh, I guess it's all synonymous..

nasarius

11-10-2008, 11:33

As far as I can see, the only appropriate non-generic name would've been Elementalist.

But of all the possibilities, "wizard" does seem to fit the new personality the best. Forget historical and D&D/fantasy connotations, just listen to the sound of the word. It works.

Bertis

11-10-2008, 12:34

Elementalist just reminds me of Titan Quest... so naa

I like Wizard..... it's actually pretty uncommon these days.

Mad Mantis

11-10-2008, 14:08

I like Wizard. It brings back images of old dudes in robes and floppy hats, but instead of that you get a dynamic young character.

Sein Schatten

11-10-2008, 15:44

I like Wizard. It brings back images of old dudes in robes and floppy hats, but instead of that you get a dynamic young character.

I would have liked an old granny teleports in front of diablo and cracks his head with a cane. How could you not like that?

Mad Mantis

11-10-2008, 16:36

I would have liked an old granny teleports in front of diablo and cracks his head with a cane. How could you not like that?

That would also be really something to see. A bit silly, but very entertaining.

SU_Shadow

11-10-2008, 21:11

When you think about it most of the D2 classes are just as generic, just see the wizard used a bit more then some of the others. I care more about what they do then what their named personally.

Akse

12-10-2008, 09:10

I think the name is ok..

Lyrs

12-10-2008, 22:33

No, I like wizard. It's very nostalgic and at the same time, very powerful.

phool

12-10-2008, 23:04

Here's what I don't get: Witchdoctor is very specific. Wizard is about as broad and non-specific as it gets. They're kind of all over the place...

I agree, the inconsistency is frankly amateurish, bizarre as it is to use the term in relation to Blizzard.

Apocalypse

13-10-2008, 15:03

i like the name wizard, see no problems at all with it. all this "change the name" really seems like splitting hairs to me.

LaZeR

13-10-2008, 15:29

Wizard is stupid.
"The Mage" or "The Warlock" are MUCH better IMO.
Even "The Witchcrafter" is more fitting for this char and has an insult touch for it, which suits the background of this type.

Lyrs

13-10-2008, 20:08

Mage would be fine, but your other two suggestions are closer to soul manipulation, which is a realm that the WD is better at.

On the level of Mage, I would say Arbiter also works, although it's very StarCrafty.

Apocalypse

13-10-2008, 20:12

whats the difference really? name it one thing that throws around magic or another things that throws it around, the name is pretty much based on whatever lore you are used to, maybe d3 does not want to copy everyones else's lore and go with thier own?

Angel_of_Wrath

13-10-2008, 20:21

Wizard is stupid.
"The Mage" or "The Warlock" are MUCH better IMO.
Even "The Witchcrafter" is more fitting for this char and has an insult touch for it, which suits the background of this type.

Mages remind me of apprentices working to become a wizard or sorceror or more powerful - they really are short for 'magician'. Sorcerers are typically more evil or dark magics. Witches and warlocks don't fit into an elemental based magic user and are usually seen as evil, 'witchcrafter' seems like a name that's different just for the sake of being different and there's already witchdoctor. Enchanters aren't really elementalists, and 'Magician' is even more generic than Wizard. A conjurer would normally raise pets and such, conjuring them to his/her will.

The term 'wizard' fits a character that not only controls elements, but can shift time. It feels powerful. Reminds me a bit of original Final Fanatasy stuff, Merlin and Gandalf. Wizards are not only powerful, but learned (wise) - they will consult ancient texts to learn new methods and they tend to favour a status system to show rank or skill level. They are not little boys with sticks and a scar. =P

The only other one I could see as fitting is maybe Archmage but even that sounds like it's trying too hard. I like Wizard, I think it suits the character.

I'm sure blizzard board rooms had similar lively discussion about this topic. ;-)

LaZeR

13-10-2008, 23:04

Witches and warlocks don't fit into an elemental based magic user and are usually seen as evil, 'witchcrafter' seems like a name that's different just for the sake of being different and there's already witchdoctor.

And this char isn't really as elemental based magic user like the old Sorc which makes it even better.

Although I really like the Witchcrafter name I guess your right- The WD alreay made ownership on this word.

IDK, Wizard just sounds to me like an old and wise Gandalf style while this char is far from that description.

Elric-Logain

13-10-2008, 23:15

The interesting thing though is that in the world of Sanctuary, being called a Sorcerer is more of a proper title which suggests that you are somehow schooled by or linked to the tradition-based and established Mage-Clans. Wizards are amateurs and is used as a derogatory term for an unschooled magic user. As such, wizards have a slightly darker tone and negative connotation from past mages in the game. I do not think that the wizard needs a name change any more than the barbarian, paladin, druid, necromancer, warrior, rogue, or mage needed one.

konfeta

13-10-2008, 23:23

People are missing, by far, the best part about the name being Wizard :wink:.

I put on my Robe and my Wizard Hat....

Mad Mantis

13-10-2008, 23:25

People are missing, by far, the best part about the name being Wizard :wink:.

I put on my Robe and my Wizard Hat....

Exactly. If there aren't any robes or wizard hats I fully support the petition to put them in. :nod:

TarnishedHope

14-10-2008, 00:12

I blame Harry Potter for this.

New classes announced: Spaceman and Cowboy.

konfeta

14-10-2008, 00:25

The day I see Harry Potter exploding people with meteors or cutting through armies with a laser beam is the day I will take that accusation seriously.

PlasmaTorture

14-10-2008, 00:35

I think Archmage fits more with the amount of power the character has, but Magician would probably be the best name. Wizard is supposedly a negative name in Sanctuary, but I think the ultimate insult to a magic user is to call them a Magician, someone who can do nothing more exciting than simple stage tricks.

gutemba

14-10-2008, 00:42

people
you dont like Wizard.ok lets call them "SUPER AWESOME COOL MEGA EXTREME dude who uses magic".
its just a name
does it really matters?

TarnishedHope

14-10-2008, 00:43

The day I see Harry Potter exploding people with meteors or cutting through armies with a laser beam is the day I will take that accusation seriously.

It's a joke. Seems like you're lacking human interaction.

Angel_of_Wrath

14-10-2008, 00:53

Wizard is supposedly a negative name in Sanctuary, but I think the ultimate insult to a magic user is to call them a Magician, someone who can do nothing more exciting than simple stage tricks.

I think that's part of the idea behind it though. If you watch the interviews from Blizzcon with Jay Wilson and Leonard Boyarsky they talk about the characters in the game being specific characters in teh world of sanctuary and having their own back story and class-specific quests and such. Since the girl in the video is supposedly un-tamable by the Vizjerei and Zann Esu teachers, then she is labelled as a wizard, trying to learn too much for her own good and seeking knowledge and power. She has a hint of arrogance as well, as seen when she smirks at Leoric's threat of serving him for eternity.

While some people think its bland and generic, I think it is familiar and specific. Pretty much all the classes in Diablo games are D&D classes anyway including barbarian, druid, paladin, etc.

konfeta

14-10-2008, 05:04

It's a joke. Seems like you're lacking human interaction.

Says the person who took the "harry potter being a walking death machine" as a serious reply.

qOcOp

14-10-2008, 09:03

We better have wands and pointy hats if the name is gonna be Wizard:coffee:

PiSeasA

14-10-2008, 10:23

the name's to please all the WoW-haters: see? D3 doesnt have mages/warlocks! therefore D3 is NOT like WoW! XD

And yup~this is def a go at harry potter - y'all read the wizard's official backstory?

"headstrong".."talented"..kicked out of school for messin around with 'forbidden' stuff..kickin the *** of his superiors in duels ~ mite as well be potter's bio! just wait for the Secret Hogwarts Level...

like the name though. 'wizard' is original at least (think of all the games u've seen sorcere(ss) , mage, and warlock). feels fresh&lively- fits nicely into the image that the char bio implies

stephan

14-10-2008, 10:36

People are missing, by far, the best part about the name being Wizard :wink:.

I put on my Robe and my Wizard Hat....
(/me hoping he gets the reference)

I swear if you do it one more time I'm gonna report your ISP and say you were sending me kiddie porn you **** up.

Bah, now I got to make a Wizard with the name bloodninja first.

uzurpator

14-10-2008, 10:47

If you are a hardcore p&p player, "Magic User" would be a better name. Otherwise - wizard is fine.

s4nder

14-10-2008, 13:28

Soon the name won't matter anyway. It'll get abbreviated into wiz or wizzy so fast you won't even remember it was once a wizard. Barb and WD agree.

Gigashadow

16-10-2008, 02:25

I love the name. Spin-offs like sorceror, mage, enchanter are just spinoffs of the real thing.

prion

16-10-2008, 04:41

wizard is fine, i love how they invented the lore behind it, and if it fits existing lore well because that term is so rarely used in any previous backstory

the whole time thing is new, i.e. not used in diablo or WoW. the phaser thing is new.

really gives the impression of someone screwing around with dangerous pure powers rather than calling on external sources like "the elements" or the Heavens or any kind of conjuring.

melianor

16-10-2008, 09:49

I like "Wizard" as class name, since he is not only a "Mage" wielding Magic Missile or Disintegrate, or a "Conjurer" conjuring forth Meteors and Tornados, or an "Enchanter" casting "Magical Weapon" upon his weapon. He does all of that and more, so the more broader term of Wizard just fits great.

I am also willing to be part of the pointy hat and robe petition if there are none per se in the game.

Also folks, we finally get real orbs and not orbs on a stick like in D2.

Fegon

16-10-2008, 10:52

I realy like "wizard" to. Just have that powerful feeling to it, imo its better to have a less specific name to the classes.. and it wont realy matter anyway since all diffrent will have diffrent names anyway.. yeah.

melianor

16-10-2008, 14:36

Why not just ditch the male wizard, rename the class to "Wizardress" and let it be at that? :whistling: :crazyeyes:

konfeta

16-10-2008, 19:57

Doesn't sound right, to be honest.

I am all for gender equality and stuff, but Wizardress kinda ruins the ring to Wizard.

Brother Laz

16-10-2008, 21:54

The name is generic, but they came up with their own lore for it. So it's fine.

Ammareddo_Fritter

17-10-2008, 04:21

But what other options do they really have?

Magician
Witch
Archon
Bedeviler
Magicker
Mischiefer
Astralist
Arcaner
Anagog
Yogin
Incanteror
Mystic
Unspeller
Metapsychist
Automatist
Etherist
Walpurgis
Theurgist
Thaumaturge
Gramarye
Obeah
Isangoma
Weird
Journeyman
Warlock
Paragon
Archegonium
Vexanaught
Teenager
Hexer
Endowed
Un-naturalist
Medium
Channeler
Caster
Soothsayer
Omener
Trixter
Speller
Lichking
Magicaster
Warpmancer

. . . or Wizard :D

melianor

17-10-2008, 07:51

I like Magicker, Caster, Thaumaturg. All the others seem a bit to specific or sound aweful.

I don't think Blizzard will do any changes, but i like the thread as we get to see other names for mages from different fantasy stories.

Angel_of_Wrath

17-10-2008, 20:42

I'll take "Weird", "Endowed", "Teenager".

stillman

18-10-2008, 12:08

Oh wait, there's more.

Mentalist
Occultist
Empath
Telepathist
Clairvoyant
Astrologer
Hag
Medicine man
Fortuneteller
Psychic
Mind Reader
Spellbinder
Messiah
Hypnotist
Sage
Prophet
Oracle
Magi
Archmage
Wiseman
Seer
Card Conjurer
Sword Swallower
Supernaturalist
Elder
Apprentice
Spiritualist

And since they're stealing everything from D&D...

Invoker
Diviner
Illusionist
Conjurer
Enchanter
Shadow walker, Ogre magi, lol.

Thunderchild

18-10-2008, 14:13

magic spinner
spell weaver
Apprentice

I love the concept actually,
but the name is... very generic.

konfeta

18-10-2008, 19:33

So generic that nearly every fantasy setting goes out of it's way to avoid it, making avoidance of the word "Wizard" generic as hell.

Keep it, IMO.

Thunderchild

18-10-2008, 20:04

So generic that nearly every fantasy setting goes out of it's way to avoid it, making avoidance of the word "Wizard" generic as hell.

Keep it, IMO.

hehehe, valid point. But I think that this fact simply makes all these names just as generic, rather than making Wizard a good name.
There are plenty of approaches you can take with it, it doesn't really bother me that much

konfeta

18-10-2008, 22:32

I just dislike the whole "let's take non-standard and cool and unique and badass name/appearance/function and pepper the setting with them just to be awesome" movement.

Wizard doesn't bother me in the slightest, it is fresh in Diabloverse. So I personally have nothign against it.

peasant

20-10-2008, 01:22

This may have been mentioned before in this thread but I feel that the problem with the name 'wizard' is that it is derived from the word 'wise', which the class (at least the female Wizard) is far from. In addition, the traditional stereotype of a wizard is that of a wizened, old man a la Gandalf and Merlin.

A more appropriate alternative, I feel, would've been the 'Warlock' since its definition (traitor or oath breaker) feels more accurate to the character's back story.

Gigashadow

20-10-2008, 01:24

peasant

20-10-2008, 01:43

Even if Wizard came from "wise", that happened long ago. For me, a Wizard is a skilled user of any form of magic.
Traditional stereotype, and following them, is the reason today's fantasy is so damn boring.
Warlock is taken by WoW...

Even though it's taken by WoW, there is sufficient difference between the WoW Warlock and the Wizard that any comparison between them would result in highlighting differences between the game (as opposed to similarities).

And as far as sticking to stereotypes, I feel they ought to since it's akin to misusing a word. For instance, it's akin to calling a dolphin a whale or a rose an orchid, etc.

Gigashadow

20-10-2008, 03:13

Dolphins and whales are real. Wizards aren't. And as far as they are not, anyone can use that name and do whatever they want with it, which plenty of sci-fi and fantasy writers have done.

If everyone will be sticking to stereotypes, we'd end up with a lot of very boring names and/or totally unoriginal representations. I don't like that. There is enough copycatting around.

peasant

20-10-2008, 19:27

Fine... restricting myself to fictional, non-existent things, what about calling a Pegasus a unicorn? Wouldn't that be weird? The same goes (at least for me) in regards with calling the Wizard a wizard.

That said, I certainly can see where you're going with this. Sticking squarely within the constraints of a particular stereotype without altering it in some way to make it different will eventually make things boring in the long run. Perhaps my 'problem' is that the difference here is too radical, and in fact in some ways antonymous with the common definition/depiction of a wizard.

Gigashadow

20-10-2008, 21:16

Fine... restricting myself to fictional, non-existent things, what about calling a Pegasus a unicorn? Wouldn't that be weird?Not really. I'd have no issue with that at all, and I saw that in Pierce Anthony once, he made a lot of jokes on switching mythological names and telling humans that they got all the names wrong. What about horned winged animals? What are they?

Then there were Farmer's centaurs. They had horse teeth and their lungs were outside because he tried to make centaurs that are scientifically possible.

It's like elves. Before Tolkien, elves were these little tiny creatures with rainbows or something. After Tolkien, elves are now these tall good-looking immortal sharp-eared bow-using agile peeps. I guess we really should go back to the old term for "elf".

Perhaps my 'problem' is that the difference here is too radical, and in fact in some ways antonymous with the common definition/depiction of a wizard.Perhaps my problem is that I played many games were wizards aren't that far from DIII stereotype. In DnD, young wizards are fine, and they aren't all wise. A lot of wizards toyed with what they shouldn't have touched... demon summoning, etc. In Nox, the wizard was a shady character, pretty young, very arrogant of his powers, and their whole community seemed like a bunch of assholes, lol.

It depends on what you look at. Considering how many stories of this and that I have read and saw of wizards, I can imagine them as absolutely anything these days. My only identification of them is that they cast random magic (random as in unclassified).

LFS

28-10-2008, 00:41

I would have liked an old granny teleports in front of diablo and cracks his head with a cane. How could you not like that?

I feel that the problem with the name 'wizard' is that it is derived from the word 'wise', which the class (at least the female Wizard) is far from. In addition, the traditional stereotype of a wizard is that of a wizened, old man a la Gandalf and Merlin.

How I would love to see, instead of a young arrogant girl, a wise old man (like Deckard!), walking slowly thorugh his enemies while barely moving his hands to make them explode with long learned magic. So cool.

And about the name, I don't like Wizard (too generic), but I can't think of anything better... maybe Magician... or Apprentice

melianor

28-10-2008, 10:29

How I would love to see, instead of a young arrogant girl, a wise old man (like Deckard!), walking slowly thorugh his enemies while barely moving his hands to make them explode with long learned magic. So cool.

And about the name, I don't like Wizard (too generic), but I can't think of anything better... maybe Magician... or Apprentice

Apprentice and "wise old man" don't really fit together, do they? :whistling:

LFS

28-10-2008, 11:55

melianor

28-10-2008, 14:16

"Apprentice" would be the name for the current Wizard, not for the wise old man. Now that I come to think about it, wouldn't it be nice if the Wizard was called "xxxxxxx apprentice", where "xxxxxxx" is some name like "Arcane" or "Black magic" or whatever fits his/her past better?

And about the wise old man, maybe I would call it "Sage"... dunno.

"Sage" is actually also a very fine name. Maybe the game will incorporate titles like you mentioned, based on the skills you chose. If you focus on a single tree it could indeed contain "Storm Wizard" or "Storm Apprentice" or the like. For those that mix more schools the titles would need to be more general then.

Zeek

30-10-2008, 22:19

I think like others I would have preferred something more unique sounding. Wizard is very bland and boring. I wouldn't even have minded if Blizzard made up their own term.

Barring that I like Spell Binder from the list of suggestions. It just has a more undisciplined ring to it IMO.

wilbert

31-10-2008, 00:42

I dunno, it sounds so bland and generic....Wizard???? :coffee::coffee:

I like the name wizard and witchdoctor,the name is unused by other game's class names.

Wizard is a great class name and makes Diablo even cooler than ever.
WitchDoctor is a cool name also,and it's not used by other games

ginNtonic

31-10-2008, 07:30

the name is fine.
You all play too much Warcraft.

Gamekk

02-11-2008, 19:48

I really like the term "Wizard" and I really like to see it being a young rebellious man. I'll play him even if he's totally weak and unbalanced because that's the type of character I'm looking for.

Frostraven

11-11-2008, 01:20

Wizard is a great class name and makes Diablo even cooler than ever.
WitchDoctor is a cool name also,and it's not used by other games

Witch Doctor is only cool. Before you learn it's etymology.
But I figure 300 years is enough to forget that it's originally used about quacks in england.

Much like how the words **** and *** have been raped by history, too.

konfeta

11-11-2008, 04:48

What you call "rape" is called natural progression of language by linguists. Just because a word has annotations in the real world, doesn't mean that Blizzard is devoid of the right to invent their own interpretation of what that word represents.

While I agree that there should be a line in calling children "younglins" or renaming swords into "axes," I don't really see how similar restrictions apply to something that lacks a concrete enough definition/imagery associated with it. And yes, the word "wizard" does not have a very concrete image to the likes of Gandalf or Ron Weasely if your fantasy reading list ever took its virgin feet outside realms of pop culture and the classic that is LotR.

AkumaSlayer

15-11-2008, 15:39

I would prefer the class to be Sorcerer/Sorceress ... or at least call the female wizard a Witch.

I hope the archer class will be named Rogue after the original Diablo class. That would be sweet. :)

Keighvin

15-11-2008, 16:36

Wizard is a gender neutral word, and while witch is derived from the same source, it makes no sense to have all the other classes have the same title regardless of gender, and then have one class make distinctions.

AkumaSlayer

15-11-2008, 17:43

It really doesn't matter whether it's a "gender neutral word" or not when most people perceive wizards as male. They should have just went with Sorcerer again IMO. Or Mage, which they considered using as the name.

konfeta

15-11-2008, 18:51

If they went Sorceror, people would cry about reusing the old name.

If they want Mage, people would cry about WoWization of Diablo 3.

AkumaSlayer

15-11-2008, 18:56

I don't associate Magi, Rogues, or Warlocks with WoW but that's just me, I guess. :\

Galabab

16-11-2008, 01:05

Just in case somebody cares:
In german version both d2 and d3 name of this class is the same:
"Zauberin".

AkumaSlayer

16-11-2008, 01:20

Thanks Galabab, that's interesting to know. According to Google Translate it means Sorceress.

Strange that they're using it for D3 though, if they're using Wizard in the English version then they should use "Assistenten" for the German version.

Galabab

16-11-2008, 01:27

What the? "Assistenten" means assistents. Does wizard mean assistent? I always thought it was pretty much the same as sorcereror...

AkumaSlayer

16-11-2008, 02:09

I dunno, I'm not German. But it translated as that on Google : http://translate.google.com.au/translate_t#en|de|wizard

Not entirely sure how accurate it is. :\

Keighvin

16-11-2008, 04:42

Well, considering that using Google to translate a German Wikipedia page has it translated to wizard, while the use is clearly assistant. So, I say Google fail.

JoshDude

16-11-2008, 09:44

I believe the name "Wizard" is fine.
It's not as good as Sorceress, but hey.

melianor

17-11-2008, 07:22

I believe the name "Wizard" is fine.
It's not as good as Sorceress, but hey.

Best line ever in this context! :yes:

Vagrant Lustoid

19-11-2008, 17:52

LULZ NO. WIZARD IS SO GENERIC. [/groanwhine]

Fact is that everyone goes so far out of their way to avoid "generic" terms now that these generic terms are in fact becoming rarer and rarer, and when they do get used they're often reinvented to not conform to the stereotype. Seriously, that's linguistic evolution. Give it another 50 years and wizard won't be generic any longer, and if it is it'll simply mean "user of magic". Given how blended the Wizard's skill trees are and the fact that she is specifically setting out to learn everything she can from every source or whatever, this definition fits just fine.

I mean, when I was theorising classes for D3 I always came up with weird or "targeted" names for the magical class, like Arcanist or Warlock or Battlemage. And looking back on that, such a practice was silly and childish. Wizard fits perfectly, exactly because it doesn't carry the aura of "trying to be cool and original, so we're awesome, kay guys?" like most other suggested names I've heard here. The only other ones I really like are Mage and Sage. I still like Arcanist, but given that only one of her trees is Arcane, such a name doesn't fit at all.

AkumaSlayer

19-11-2008, 19:00

I agree that Wizard is a better name than all of the ones you came up with, except Mage.

ciobanica

19-11-2008, 22:04

I knew they wouldn't come up with a better name then Sorc when they said they wouldn't bring back any other former classes (as in names, there's no way they wouldn't have a primary caster)... but i was kinda hoping for Magus/Magi or something more ancient sounding like that... but i was sure i could live with Wizard or Warlock (the more obvious answers).

Vagrant Lustoid

20-11-2008, 18:50

Wizard is just as cool as Sorcerer/ess. Anyone who is complaining that Wizard is generic, I hope you complained that Sorcerer/ess is just as generic, because it really is. Wizard and Sorcerer have both been side by side as the generic magic-users since at least 2DnD, and possibly the original DnD.

AkumaSlayer

20-11-2008, 19:49

Let's test this theory.. what do you think of when you hear the word "Wizard" ? A generic image of Gandalf, or some other white haired wizard immediately comes to mind. Now what do you think of when you hear the word "Sorcerer" ? It could be any magic user, good or evil. Definitely a better title for a young Asian mage.

However, it doesn't bother me too much. I'm just saying they could have picked something more suited like Mage, or Sorcerer.

Keighvin

20-11-2008, 20:58

Galabab

20-11-2008, 21:46

In essence,
is wizard not a good magic user?
while a sorceror can be good but is a little more shadowy.
A dark sorceror sounds much better than a dark wizard.
Wizard is just too much of firework and tricks and sitting in a tower while sorcerer is enourmous forbidden knowledge. You now what i mean?

Imo mage would be best.

AkumaSlayer

20-11-2008, 22:47

Akuma, please stop generalizing what others are thinking. YOU immediately think of Gandalf, does not mean that everyone else does. I have read a number of fantasy books, and what I think of with the term wizard is just a magic user, without an age requirement.

Generalizing what others are thinking is the whole point. The game is being made for the general public, not some small group of fantasy buffs like yourself. You could conduct a survey based on my last post and ask people which name they would prefer for the young Asian, and I'm telling you, Wizard won't be a popular choice. For such an unusual stereotype people are going to prefer names that don't have a specific look/gender linked to it. Like Sorcerer over Wizard, Mage over Witch, etc.

However, Blizzard has chosen a common name and is trying to break that stereotype. It might work. But from what I've read, it wasn't their first choice either - they wanted Sorcerer but couldn't use it because the new character is different from the old class. They were also considering using Mage, but figured there could be a huge backlash about using the name from WoW. So they went with Wizard.

Vagrant Lustoid

21-11-2008, 04:09

Or they might think, you know... teenager with messy hair, glasses and a scar? I'm sure that thanks to Harry Potter the perception of wizard as simply a magic user has widened massively to the general public. This isn't the seventies/eighties, where magical stereotypes were almost always followed precisely, especially in games. Dumbledore, Harry Potter, Voldemort, these people are all wizards. And yet only one of them projects the image you talk about when you mention Gandalf.

Whether you like Harry Potter or not, it has greatly widened the connotations of wizard to the general public, and it's not the only one. Let's have a look at Diskworld, hrm? Wizards are scholarly, yes, but what's this? "Younger wizards enthusiastically experiment, pushing back the boundaries of knowledge and making new discoveries about the nature of the universe. They don't understand how magic works either, but have much more exciting words to explain why not." - Wiki about Wizards in Diskworld.

Sounds rather familiar. Anyway, in medieval tales, the wizard is often a foe to the hero, quite often indistinguishable from a giant or ogre or the like, sometimes even shown as gods. However, it is true that in medieval romance tales, the wizard was often the wise old mentor, whilst the sorcerer was evil. This would suggest that your comment about people recognising a wizard as Gandalf-like but ascribing no particular style to a sorcerer as erronous, as most fantasy will ascribe evil to a sorcerer, at the very least.

I don't deny the wizard has a stereotype. However, I do believe that in this century you'll see traditional stereotypes of fictional character concepts begin to break down, especially ones as generic and wide-ranging as wizard. Thusly, I'm glad to see it called as such.

It's probably worth noting also that sorceress is generally used as the feminine form of wizard or magician almost as often as sorcerer. So yeah, if she's a sorceress, and there are males of the same practice, they're just as likely to be wizards or magicians as sorcerers.

Having glanced at the Wizard (character class) article as well, it's interesting to note that pretty much any spellcaster class in any game can and does relate back to classical wizardry in some way, with the whole article treating most magical classes from most games as wizards. This fits in with the Diablo concept of a Wizard picking up magic from all sorts of sources and applying it as they see fit.

konfeta

21-11-2008, 05:35

Christ, I give up.

http://www.teachwithmovies.org/guides/wizard-of-oz-DVDcover.jpg

I pray to GOD that Blizzard uses this as Diablo 3's box art to spite everyone who complained about the chosen name.

melianor

21-11-2008, 07:59

Vagrant Lustoid

21-11-2008, 13:15

I'm in agreeance. The Wizard of Oz would be great box art for those who complain that the Wizard doesn't have a beard and a pointy hat.

AkumaSlayer

21-11-2008, 14:28

I don't know anyone wanting a Wizard with a beard and hat? Lots of people were complaining about the character being called a Wizard though. :\

stillman

21-11-2008, 19:50

Yeah, some people don't like cheesiness, and I think it's Ok for them to not like it. If they could somehow make the box showing 'Diablo 3' in cheddar or swiss cheese letters, that would work too. Swiss is the one with the holes in it right? That would be best imo. Diablo 'Cheese' kind of sounds like Diablo 'Three'.

But on a more serious note, I think I figgured out why they chose the name. First, looking at the name barbarian, this name is probably evokes the most extreme image out of all the potential melee names. So we hear 'barbarian' and picture a huge muscle bound maniac causing absolute destruction. Knight, fighter, or warrior; those are nice names but they just aren't as extreme as barbarian. A typical knight image would be coated in armor hiding the muscle and would be more sophisticated, polite, etc. Blizzard wants to have a Marvel Comics image emerging in people's heads. Whatever image has the most muscle will sell the game the best, just like the Arnold movies in the 80's. They didn't get the winner of Mr. Universe contest to play star roles by coincidence.

The only probelm is, well, look at the batman animated series. Batman's got this beedy little pea brain, giant jaw, obvious anabolic steroid use, and he looks about 350 pounds. It's not really Batman anymore is it? Not so stealthy anymore.

So same sort of deal with wizard. Many other names don't have us thinking of mass destruction quite as much as the word 'wizard'. They want us to think of supreme power taken to comic book extremes. With a name like 'mage' maybe we typically picture more of a calm wiseman or magi from the bible--not a bunch of destruction and energy going everywhere.

So that's just my take on why they chose the names they did. I believe they're going for a comic book feel to the chr's. Even the WD is over the top with his hunching and flailing about. They want all the chr's to be over the top.

Perhaps we're not used to this sort of change, and it IS quite a change. For example, if the paladin were to be a d3 chr, I'm guessing he/she would fit this description: 7.5 feet tall, sword bigger than he is, white light blazing out of every opening in the armor, armor has giant angels or w/e engraved on it, and so on. Extreme.

I side with those who don't prefer the name wizard because I would like to think Blizzard doesn't have to use these tactics to sell thier game. We would all still buy it I'm sure, if the chr's were toned down a bit.

I mean look at WoW, where you have a chr's index finger being larger than his entire head. They basically make chr's more macho by decreasing the head size and increasing the hand size. But it starts to look pretty bad after too much desperation is put into it.