Traditional fantasy-based MMO classes redesigned for a post-apocalyptic setting: ( 9 / 9 ) mages

Mages were the actually the first class I thought of when I started planning this series, so I thought they’d be a nice note to end on. A lot of this series started because I wanted to see if I could give “mages” an analog equivalent to magic; I also really wanted to give them some sort of long, staff-like weapon. 

Flamethrowers and flamethrower-equivalents ended up being the post-apocalyptic stand-in for magic: ice magic (left) is represented with a fire-extinguisher-like blaster that uses liquid nitrogen, lightning magic (right) uses a long-reach shock-prod powered by industrial- or car-batteries, and fire magic (not pictured) uses propane. Mages carry around large tanks of fuel for their respective “magic” jury-rigged together with hiking backpack straps for easy transport. 

The weight of these packs means that mages can’t spare the stamina to also wear heavy armor while maintaining the level of dexterity necessary for operating their weapons. Their safety suits (usually scavenged hazmat or industrial safety jumpsuits) are light and easy to move in, but only provide basic defense, resulting in their relative frailty. 

Mages are also capable of cobbling together grenade-like weapons of the same type as their main weapon. While these weapons allow for immediate bursts of damage, mages need to prepare them beforehand and can only carry a limited number of them at a time.