Sages are discussed in depth in the 1st Edition Dungeon Master Guide on pages 31-33. But in 5th edition and other editions they are not discussed much if at all. Granted….sages are just a Non Player Character. It can be assumed that such individuals exist in the realms of these later editions even if they are not discussed much. For development of a sage for these later editions you could go back and use the 1st Edition Dungeon Master Guide for creation. Or you could find another source such as this one:
This site gives you some tables for development of a sage for 5th Edition.
What Use Are Sages?
Sages have different purposes in Dungeons and Dragons. Sometimes Characters need answers to questions that they cannot find. A sage might have them. Or he might be able to find the answer. Either way he will expect to get paid handsomely for his or her efforts.
Sages have lots of expenses. They need books. Lots of them. And books are expensive in the medieval and fantasy worlds. They tend to be reclusive. This requires servants to keep them fed and keep them from falling over dead after they are up for fifty hours researching some obscure and arcane point.
Sages often not the most sociable individuals. They like their books far more than they like other people. They do not like interruptions in their research. This is true even when they have read their entire library fifty times.
Sages Love Books
Sages know a little about a lot. But they know a lot about a little. Each has a specialty. Adventurers who find books about this specialty will likely find a sage quite willing to pay handsomely for it. Sages like books so much that they might even commission adventurers to seek out some obscure and ancient lost library in order to find a tome that the sage has learned of from other research. These journeys could be perilous for the adventurer but profitable in the end.
if a sage does not already know the answer to a question it is quite probable that he or she can find it given time to do so. Such efforts will require hours of research. Perhaps even days or weeks of research will be required.
All kinds of writings can be valuable to a sage. Maps. Scrolls. Writings on some statue in a dungeon. Sometimes taking a sage along with the group might be necessary in order for him to see the writings and hieroglyphics and then render an answer.
Sages Do Not Always Live in the City
While most big cities in fantasy worlds will likely have at least one sage it is also quite probable that sages who are experts in strange and rare subjects might be located in far flung places. Perhaps a long and dangerous journey is required to find such a sage. A high mountain top or a dark forest might be home. Sages are always close to a library of some sort but usually they have their own. They do not like sharing books with others.
Libraries of Sages
Sages love libraries of course. The love the books in them. And they have their own libraries. Such places are filled with rare and dusty tomes. Most are about specific subjects that the sage is interested in. The sage has devoted his or her life to studying certain subjects and considers themselves to be the foremost authorities on these subjects.
Obviously a sage will protect his prized books from potential thieves. Precautions will be taken to avoid losing a single tome.
Sages are Not Wimps
Sages in 1st Edition had some magical abilities in their chosen fields. These abilities came from studying these fields in great depth. A sage who was an expert in botany would be likely to have Druid spell casting knowledge. A sage who is an expert in the arcane would likely have Wizard spell casting knowledge.
They are also likely to have armed servants to protect them when needed. Sages are not stupid. They know that their books are valuable. And they know that others may want them. They will defend them to the death if necessary.
Sages in Dungeons and Dragons are Good Adventure Hooks
Sages in Dungeons and Dragons can provide many adventure and role playing opportunities. The adventurers often need answers. Sages often need things as well. Sages and adventurers can feed off of each other. Things found in their rare tomes may tell of legendary items, creatures and places that adventurers would have interest in. Virtually all forms of knowledge in the fantasy world are likely to be written down somewhere. Sages can often find it.
