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Rating: 
Summary: If you understand how to use it, the book is wonderful
Review: Being an educated DM I decided to use the book as a module instead of a guide. By turning my evil campaign against the magister it created a wonderful module for high level characters... I changed the rules alittle (as always) but it seem great and made a perfect exit for the players characters... All my players agreed that they enjoyed that adventure more than most others they had went through... Be creative... Many books can be used in multiple ways....
Rating: 
Summary: Another Greenwood bust...
Review: Ed Greenwood has a way of suckering people into buying his books, no matter how useless the material. Though prolific, he rarely writes anything of value, or which displays even one iota of creativity. Secrets of the Magister is little different. Though this sourcebook is not riddled with impossibly-high statistics of godlike characters, it follows the Greenwood mold. In his quest to create a thorough, detailed world, Greenwood has introduced a plethora of facts, from the trite to the trivial. Secrets of the Magister takes an otherwise mysterious being and, by revealing its secrets, not only brings that lofty title down to the mundane, but drags it through the filth of artificiality. None of what Greenwood writes feels real! Granted, it's a fantasy world, but if we are to suspend disbelief, as is the goal of role-playing, then the magical should seem wondrous, not mundane; characters should feel alive, not artificial; and adventure should be high and fantastic, not removed and routine. Half the book is devoted to a brief history of the magisters, which is as dry and didactic as a textbook. A good portion deals with special spells and magical items employed or created by magisters past and present. This is of some value if you want some new spells or magical items to introduce to a campaign and are not feeling particularly creative at the moment, but it is such a small, unoriginal sample that this books is not worth buying just as a magic supplement. Finally, Greenwood deals with the attributes of magisters, how they are selected, what benefits they receive, etc., all with the enthusiasm of a lich in a dead-magic zone. Browse through the book if you want, take a look at the spells and items, but don't bother buying it...chances are, you'll come up with much more creative and superior material on your own.
Rating:
Summary: Another Greenwood bust...
Review: Ed Greenwood has a way of suckering people into buying his books, no matter how useless the material. Though prolific, he rarely writes anything of value, or which displays even one iota of creativity. Secrets of the Magister is little different. Though this sourcebook is not riddled with impossibly-high statistics of godlike characters, it follows the Greenwood mold. In his quest to create a thorough, detailed world, Greenwood has introduced a plethora of facts, from the trite to the trivial. Secrets of the Magister takes an otherwise mysterious being and, by revealing its secrets, not only brings that lofty title down to the mundane, but drags it through the filth of artificiality. None of what Greenwood writes feels real! Granted, it's a fantasy world, but if we are to suspend disbelief, as is the goal of role-playing, then the magical should seem wondrous, not mundane; characters should feel alive, not artificial; and adventure should be high and fantastic, not removed and routine. Half the book is devoted to a brief history of the magisters, which is as dry and didactic as a textbook. A good portion deals with special spells and magical items employed or created by magisters past and present. This is of some value if you want some new spells or magical items to introduce to a campaign and are not feeling particularly creative at the moment, but it is such a small, unoriginal sample that this books is not worth buying just as a magic supplement. Finally, Greenwood deals with the attributes of magisters, how they are selected, what benefits they receive, etc., all with the enthusiasm of a lich in a dead-magic zone. Browse through the book if you want, take a look at the spells and items, but don't bother buying it...chances are, you'll come up with much more creative and superior material on your own.
Rating: 
Summary: Greenwood should write for children
Review: Ed Greenwoods books all have the failing of perfect character syndrome, where we get to see a god-like character have paper-thin see-through "human problems". Gods have nothing better to do than hang around and chew the fat with his characters, etc.. This one is no different. In "secrets" spells are cast that don't exist, all kinds of effects that aren't even vaguely plausible in the context of F.Realms. take place. I promise this is the last one I'll read. Please god bring back Dark Sun!
Rating:
Summary: Greenwood should write for children
Review: Ed Greenwoods books all have the failing of perfect character syndrome, where we get to see a god-like character have paper-thin see-through "human problems". Gods have nothing better to do than hang around and chew the fat with his characters, etc.. This one is no different. In "secrets" spells are cast that don't exist, all kinds of effects that aren't even vaguely plausible in the context of F.Realms. take place. I promise this is the last one I'll read. Please god bring back Dark Sun!
Rating:
Summary: If you understand how to use it, the book is wonderful
Review: I bought this module and convinced my DM to allow my character a shot at becoming the Magister. After successfully attaining that high esteemed place, she was continuously was bombarded by mages attempting to destroy her (and thusly quickly raised herself to phenomenal strength). This module does not tell you how to role play the magister...it tells you what comes along with being the Magister, what you must do and a long history of the Magister. The people below seem to forget that Ed Greenwood created Forgotten Realms and whatever he says goes. Sure the Magister is a powerful person but wouldn't it take a more powerful mage to take her down? You see PCs who live long enough to reach high level should be rewarded with such honors and that is what this book is for. It is an excellent way to retire a mage who has done everything. The key to this module is how the DM uses it not what the module says.
Rating:
Summary: Aspirations of a Mage
Review: I bought this module and convinced my DM to allow my character a shot at becoming the Magister. After successfully attaining that high esteemed place, she was continuously was bombarded by mages attempting to destroy her (and thusly quickly raised herself to phenomenal strength). This module does not tell you how to role play the magister...it tells you what comes along with being the Magister, what you must do and a long history of the Magister. The people below seem to forget that Ed Greenwood created Forgotten Realms and whatever he says goes. Sure the Magister is a powerful person but wouldn't it take a more powerful mage to take her down? You see PCs who live long enough to reach high level should be rewarded with such honors and that is what this book is for. It is an excellent way to retire a mage who has done everything. The key to this module is how the DM uses it not what the module says.
Rating:
Summary: Great Great Book
Review: In secrets of the magister it tells you if u look close enough how to be an invincible level 1 mage with all satas 25 and unlimeted wish spells. the invincibility comes with casting i think its a 6th level spell in an area described i the book and to get 720 wishes have the magister give u the ability to cast wish, just read closely and its all possable great book buy it.
Rating: 
Summary: A MUST have for any DM who's mages want to rule the kingdom
Review: This book was a great find by me, it had exactly what I was looking for, New spells, New magic items, and an 'upgrade' to those Mages that are powerful and wish to do something other than just go out and hunt Umberhulks. I suggest you get this accesory if you are running the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting.. in the pages the History of Magister Role is explained in detail and gives about 30+ names of past Magisters how they came into the office and how they fell from the grace of Mystara.
Rating:
Summary: Another arms-race supplement for the Realms
Review: Though the concept of the Magister as a Highlander-for-magi "there can be only one" concept promises high adventure and danger, this book doesn't seem to live up to that. One might term the Magister an avatar of Mystra, although that would not quite be correct... it's more a position akin to a research professorship bequeathed by the ultimate Dean of Studies. Too much filler material, drawn with a broad brush and overly stereotyped - this book seems like it should have been a couple chapters in a larger text rather than padded out to fill its own volume.
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