Is there any reference source on how many Wizard Lords a typical college of magic has? I'm asking for "politics" purposes since this is the tier below Patriarch -the VP's/Department heads who might replace a Patriarch and a good level for scheming etc. I'm inclined to go with 3 or 4 at a time, with 1 or 2 others on extended "discrete assignment, perhaps dead, perhaps missing, perhaps not".

I have looked though 1st-3rd edition source books, and fantasy battle stuff going back to fourth edition I actually cannot find any direct reference to the number of magister lords. The information I have found says that they are often positioned department heads within the college as well as heading up college guilds/research facilities in towns and cities. Lords who have risen from a Master position will often have a more politically powerful position than those who have come from being a Battle Wizard due to the extended absences of Battle Wizards.

It would also vary from college to college as some colleges are more popular, thus having more students and more need for those placed higher in positions (eg: - The Bright and Gold colleges ) Technically all Lords are of the same rank and power with the exception of the Primarch who of course runs the college. Only Magister Lords can compete to become the leader of the college, which is done via arcane duelling.

I Imagine that once you add in regional positions, political advisors and those Magisters who are leading research or on other quests around the empire and beyond, as well as those who serve in as Magister Vigilant hunting out black Magisters, Witches and all other of the empires internal threats there is likely to be more than 20 at least. I would not like to guess at an exact figure, but despite the larger than you would think numbers of Magister Lords only about five would hold much political clout anywhere outside there field of expertise.

In my opinion in a normal Warhammer campaign a player that becomes a Magister Lord will normally be either positioned in charge of his own research/quest or be a Magister Vigilant of some kind. He would still have to perform duties on behalf of the College, most likely examples I can think of are to be a mentor for a journeyman or to check up/review a Magister or Master Magisters project. Also even at Lord status he would have to make an appearance in his college every 6 months - 1 year to present what he has been doing to a panel of his peers this is to protect against Magisters falling to chaos as well as to make sure that the colleges resources are being assigned appropriately. It is also the duty of all college wizards from the rank of Magister upwards to enhance the college either politically, fiscally or in learning .

At Lord level the player would have a great deal of freedom, I think it would be a lot of fun for the player to present an area in which he wishes to advance, and apply for various resources etc. I feel at this level of play this will help define how powerful a Magister Lord is, and really help empower the player.

Sorry I could not directly answer your question I hope this ramble has been of some use.

Crimsonsun

Very useful, thank you - and thanks for taking the time to check your sources (I envy your library). It encourages me to expand on my draft thinking about number of wizard lords and dispersion of them throughout Empire etc.

crimsonsun said:

There are occasional references to other positions with a collage, there is at least one mention of a dean that I recall, there is also at least one Arch-Wizard. Oh, and I am pretty sure the Light Collage has some quite wacky titles that have been thrown up in the past as well, like Master Chanter.

yes they have Master Chanter (Elrisse who taught Egrimm van Horstmann). I think because of their "choirs" of low-level glowbugs (light mages) who keep their wards on the ancient evils they guard intact. And of course, being Light College, they must have "Illuminatus" of some sort…..