What’s the difference?
In high society, wizards are scholars who study magic in institutions or on their own. They go through rigorous, lengthy procedures to create new spells and find new applications of magic. Spells are often pier reviewed quite extensively before being published and sold on the mass market (i.e. the PHB and other spells before Tasha’s). A few exceptions are when powerful or famous wizards (such as Tasha) release their own spell compilations - like portions of their spell books that contain their own well know signature spells. You don’t have to go to an academy to be a wizard, just have to have an appreciation for learning and education of magic in a somewhat structured way (i.e. have a spell book, learn your cantrips, use the right components or focuses, etc.). In most cities, wizards are sought out for their knowledge and expertise on magical matters. That knowledge can often be applied to other magical things like constructs and magical infrastructure. In that way, Wizards are not unlike professional engineers. When one graduates from an academy, they get a certificate. But ones who learn magic under a mentor or on their own are also recognized in most places for their achievement.
On the other hand, Witches are much more DIY when it comes to magic. Spells are passed down orally/through demonstration. There are no real rules about being a witch, nothing is pier reviewed or safety tested, which often makes city folk suspicious about their skill/qualification. Conversely, lots of people in rural areas/wilderness zones respect witches highly. They have a much more diverse skill set than most wizards thanks to not being constrained to certain spells, are often much less afraid of not doing things by the book, getting their hands dirty, and they employ more beneficial/healing magics rather than combat or conjuration(summoning/creating) magics favoured by wizards. Witches adapt their magic to what is needed in their community or for the task at hand. Magic is organic, there is no real need to record it since it’s going to change day to day anyway!
Neither is superior to the other, they simply practice magic in very different ways. One follows rules and passes knowledge down in structured ways to be improved upon by piers of the same specialty. The other creates their own rules and passes their knowledge down to whoever needs it, to be improved or changed in whatever way the inheritor sees fit.
It is much easier for most to learn magic the way witches teach it, but it often doesn’t progress to much higher a level than tier 3. It’s more rigorous to and strict to learn magic the way wizards teach it, but it’s also easier to bring that magic to a high level because of the structured way it is taught and the clear foundations that the spells are built on (i.e. up casting, stronger spells that do similar things, etc.)
Different ways of teaching suit different people and cultures, and some cultures have differing views on the matters
GM navigation: 00 - Cytgard GM Home · 00 - Setting Index