The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
How do Wizards make a living?
dspringer1:
This is a murky subject for the books as the author has provided very little detail. Some thoughts shared via the books include:
* The White Council has vast financial resources and pays it staff a reasonable some. Given the hints about how much Harry was paid as a regional warden, this sum probably allows a normal but not extravagant life for anyone working for the council.
* Some wizard abilities related to information probably allow some wizards to invest in the stock market or otherwise financially benefit from information.
* Clearly some wizards are selling items of power to other wizards/supernatural agents and can probably make a good living at this. But multiple comments in the book imply that making items for other people is rather hard and requires a lot of skill.
* Some wizards are in the entertainment business (aka - old Morty) or otherwise "pretending" to be entertainers rather than real wizards. But few could make a real living in this way.
* Some wizards can probably have a "normal" profession where they excel due to (in part) their wizard abilities. And Ectomancer would probably make a good detective or a geomancer a good structural or mining engineer.
However, it does seem like the study of magic is a very time consuming endeavor that makes "other careers" a challenge. Add in the issues with technology and it seems like most wizards would have a tough time earning substantial income without engaging in questionable activities.
Anybody else see things differently?
There are probably only a few thousand real wizards of the white council in the world, so realistically there can only be less than a dozen wizards in most countries. United States and European countries are probably the only exceptions. That small a population allows for some really specialized niches.
Snark Knight:
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on October 17, 2019, 06:02:26 PM ---* Some wizard abilities related to information probably allow some wizards to invest in the stock market or otherwise financially benefit from information.
--- End quote ---
You'd have to be careful not to overplay that, though, and make enough deliberate small mistakes to pass for lucky but not unnaturally so. Making a killing on a pattern of what looks like insider trading is going to draw law enforcement attention sooner or later.
g33k:
Enumerating for convenience...
--- Quote from: dspringer1 on October 17, 2019, 06:02:26 PM ---
* The White Council has vast financial resources and pays it staff a reasonable some. Given the hints about how much Harry was paid as a regional warden, this sum probably allows a normal but not extravagant life for anyone working for the council.
* Some wizard abilities related to information probably allow some wizards to invest in the stock market or otherwise financially benefit from information.
* Clearly some wizards are selling items of power to other wizards/supernatural agents and can probably make a good living at this. But multiple comments in the book imply that making items for other people is rather hard and requires a lot of skill.
* Some wizards are in the entertainment business (aka - old Morty) or otherwise "pretending" to be entertainers rather than real wizards. But few could make a real living in this way.
* Some wizards can probably have a "normal" profession where they excel due to (in part) their wizard abilities. And Ectomancer would probably make a good detective or a geomancer a good structural or mining engineer.
--- End quote ---
I expect #2 is much of what causes #1. I think it might even stray over into industrial / commercial espionage, on occasion, mysterious theft, or other "only if he can do magic" sorts of ill-gotten gains. Breaking mortal law may be "in bad taste" or something, but doesn't violate the Laws of Magic, so... no (wizardly) penalty. Other than wizards who find out, and may... snub you, or something? Speak disparagingly of how tawdry you behave?
The WC probably controls (or IS) at least one major investment house in each major financial center in the world.
I think #3 gets many wizards some capital, which they invest via the WC "investment engine" ... and probably do very well indeed.
I think very few WC wizards are "in entertainment," per #4. Morty is a sub-wizard talent; poweful ectomancer, but that's just not enough... he has no non-ectomantic powers.
#5 seems possible, but honestly unlikely -- I think few wizards are willing to "work a normal job" like Harry is. But since you mention Geomancy... that'd be great for finding gold, or gems. Aquamancy might find wrecked ships, a few of which will have treasure, and many of which will have other value. Etc.
Mostly, I expect wizards do the #1 / #2 / #3 cycle: Work for the WC, or make items for the WC for "pay," and invest with the WC "financial wizards;" they're probably comfortably well-off after not very long... well-to-do shortly thereafter, and heading rapidly toward filthy rich, if they care to keep investing their time.
The WC is acting as their BANK. You know banks... they're a wealth-making engine! The WC probably does gloriously-well, as an institution, just handling investments for all their members.
Bad Alias:
I imagine most wizards don't need to work.
Before mechanization of everything, a wizard would probably have a fantastic competitive edge in most fields. By not existing at a subsistence level, they would have been afforded the opportunity to invest in relatively safe ways. After 100 years of this, they wouldn't need to work, so I imagine most older wizards don't need to work.
A lot of jobs would still be very competitive for a wizard. I imagine a wizard who knows some Cobbs could make a living by "being" a cobbler without doing much. They might even be able to profit without doing anything but setting up a business: somebody to take payment and shoes and return said shoes during business hours, somebody to manage the books and bills. This could apply to every job that fairies helped with in any fairy tale. Toot was a fairy who did farm work. Most of these fairies situations would probably be similar to the Cobbs who were desperate for work. Industrialization/mechanization put many fairies out of work.
I imagine being a courier would have been very profitable before the steam engine or even air travel. Smuggling would still be pretty profitable.
Many wizards probably leave a lot of their wealth to former apprentices. Most of their family is likely so distantly related that they would rather leave things to someone who knows their name. Therefore, many wizards are probably wealthy from inherited wealth.
A lot of wizards probably have an opportunity like Harry in Skin Game to make a fantastic amount of money relatively early on in life, and most of the time it wouldn't be very dangerous or morally questionable.
Eb is a farmer. I don't know if he's a professional farmer, or a hobbyist.
I think a better formulation of your question might be "how do young wizards make a living?"
Combat, stealth, or illusion oriented wizards could make a good deal of money by robbing/burgling drug dealers. Information oriented wizards could definitely make a lot of money investing or gambling. That's especially true if the information is from the future.
Ulsharavas stated Harry could have other careers, focus on his magical studies, use his "skills for material gain and lining in wealth," so I imagine there is a broad spectrum of activities that any wizard could do to easily make a living.
Regenbogen:
Well, Harry did use magic for his PI jobs.
As stated before, Eb is a farmer.
I can imagine wizards being teachers, various consultants, craftsmen, psychologists, even firefighters or priests and several other professions where using technology can be avoided.
And there is no need to use magic constantly in daily live.
I don't think they do not work at all. At least the young ones (up to 60, 70, 80 years old perhaps). I mean, they seem to live among non-magical people. It would be in their interest not to draw attention to themselves by hanging out in their labs all day wearing stained robes, cackling over bubbling cauldrons and drawing circles everywhere.
Harry appears to be the only one or at least one of the few, who openly admits that he is a wizard.
I've read about certain wizards in London's police. ;)
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