Arcane Colleges of Altdorf - Help me reconcile
Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 3:56 am
For as long as I can remember, I have been under the impression that the Arcane Colleges of Altdorf are the only place in the Empire that you can legally learn to use magic.
Supported by passages such as...
To legally cast magic in the Empire, a Human must follow the Articles of Imperial Magic and belong to one of the Eight Colleges of Magic in Altdorf (WFRP 4e Core Rulebook pp.60).
...in Altdorf, the location of all the Arcane Colleges since Magnus' dispensation... (Sigmar's Heirs (WFRP 2e) pp. 25).
...Thus were the Colleges of Magic established in the City of Altdorf... (The Empire, WFB 8e army book pp.12, 18)
..Magnus announced that Altdorf would house the new Orders of Magic (Realms of Sorcery (WFRP 2e) pp.28)
They are the Wizards of the Imperial Colleges of Magic, and they alone amongst the practitioners or arcane spellcraft are sanctioned by Imperial decree and the ult of Sigmar (Realms of Sorcery (WFRP 2e) pp.51)
I'm sure there are others, but you get the idea - perhaps few explicitly state it, but it certainly seems to be at least implied.
So I was a bit surprised (and excited!) when I read the following:
Because of Middenheim’s reputation for tolerance towards magic users, there is a steady stream of would-be apprentices calling at the Guild, but few are admitted. Those that do get in receive training in Wizardry that is second only to the Colleges of Altdorf (Middenheim cotww pp.46).
Contradictions in fantasy works is hardly unexpected, especially in those repeatedly revised and grown over decades, but what I am interested in hearing is...
A: What is the simplest and easiest way to reconcile these seemingly at odds statements?
B: What interesting twists or changes can you think of that do the same job?
C: Are there any other documented magical institutions within the Empire that I don't know about?
D: Have you added any extra magical colleges or guilds etc into your games set in the Empire?
Discuss!!
Supported by passages such as...
To legally cast magic in the Empire, a Human must follow the Articles of Imperial Magic and belong to one of the Eight Colleges of Magic in Altdorf (WFRP 4e Core Rulebook pp.60).
...in Altdorf, the location of all the Arcane Colleges since Magnus' dispensation... (Sigmar's Heirs (WFRP 2e) pp. 25).
...Thus were the Colleges of Magic established in the City of Altdorf... (The Empire, WFB 8e army book pp.12, 18)
..Magnus announced that Altdorf would house the new Orders of Magic (Realms of Sorcery (WFRP 2e) pp.28)
They are the Wizards of the Imperial Colleges of Magic, and they alone amongst the practitioners or arcane spellcraft are sanctioned by Imperial decree and the ult of Sigmar (Realms of Sorcery (WFRP 2e) pp.51)
I'm sure there are others, but you get the idea - perhaps few explicitly state it, but it certainly seems to be at least implied.
So I was a bit surprised (and excited!) when I read the following:
Because of Middenheim’s reputation for tolerance towards magic users, there is a steady stream of would-be apprentices calling at the Guild, but few are admitted. Those that do get in receive training in Wizardry that is second only to the Colleges of Altdorf (Middenheim cotww pp.46).
Contradictions in fantasy works is hardly unexpected, especially in those repeatedly revised and grown over decades, but what I am interested in hearing is...
A: What is the simplest and easiest way to reconcile these seemingly at odds statements?
B: What interesting twists or changes can you think of that do the same job?
C: Are there any other documented magical institutions within the Empire that I don't know about?
D: Have you added any extra magical colleges or guilds etc into your games set in the Empire?
Discuss!!