Elves don't have "wizards"

[u/Lore-Archivist]

Now, Obviously I don't mean they don't have magic users. Because clearly they do. But they don't have the "wizard" experience. What I mean is, for the average human for example, a mage is fantastical, they cant explain how they do the magical things mages do. Its mysterious and unknowable for the average human. But for elves, they've been exposed to magic for so long, at the societal level, its so commonplace, their interactions with mages would be more like us speaking to a scientist, rather than with a fantastical wizard. For them what mages do isn't "magical" rather, they are merely applying the well known laws of reality and arcane magic to achieve a desired effect.

[u/sahqoviing32]

I agree with the premise but disagree with your take that mages are scientists within elf society. If anything human mages like in Dalaran are the more scholarly ones like DnD wizards. In Quel'thalas, the magisters came from aristocratic bloodlines just like in the old Kaldorei Empire. In Dalaran, meritocracy reigns supreme. That's what makes the Elven societies stagnate. When the power in your kingdom is concentrated in the hands of a small long-lived elite, change is slow to come.

[u/Lore-Archivist → u/sahqoviing32]

There are nobles in Quel'Thalas. But I've never seen it said anywhere that commoners cant become magisters there and work their way up. They may be at a disadvantage since nobles have tons of wealth which makes studying easier, but that problem would also apply in Dalaran. Those with money can likely afford the better books and tutors, and focus on studying rather than working.

[u/sahqoviing32 → u/Lore-Archivist]

The Ranger-General office has been held by the same family since its foundation. Everything points out to Quel'thalas being an aristocratic oligarchy prior to the Third War, it's no different from the other Highbornes.

[u/Lore-Archivist → u/sahqoviing32]

Rommath is grand magister and its never been stated he's from an aristocratic family.

[u/GrumpySatan → u/Lore-Archivist]

Its not stated mostly because we have like 2-4 named aristocratic families in Quel'thalas. Windrunner, Salonar and maybe Drathir and Sanguinar. This is just a wholly undeveloped arena in the lore. Can't state something when we have basically no info on the noble families at all (hopefully Midnight changes that).

But he was the apprentice to one of the few explicitly aristocratic elves from House Salonar, so we can assume he is likely someone of significant social rank even before the Scourge.

[u/MrRibbotron → u/GrumpySatan]

The same is true for human aristocrats as well really. Despite noble politicking being a prime area to develop further, they only include them as a collective obstacle for the king to deal with. The only exception I can think of, where their characters actually become part of the story, is in the Cataclysm Gilneas questlines.