Kinds of Arcane Casters (non-game specific)

[Fixer]

I am working on a project and am trying to identify styles of arcane casters. (I am also working on a similar project for divine-style casters but that's for later.)

For arcane caster-types thus far I have the following styles:

Artifice: focused on creating magically enhanced items.
Blaster: focused on ranged energy-based attacks.
Mageknight: focused around touch attacks and self-defense.
Shifter: focused around changing shape, self and others.

Looking for more. Nothing too specific, but nothing overly broad.

[Mongoose87]

Summoner: Focuses on calling things to help him
Necromancer: As above, but undead

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Enchanter

Elementalist

[Eldariel]

Illusionist: Conserves energy by just making it seem like reality is ****ed up instead of actually ****ing it up.
Shaper: Focuses on altering the environment to his liking
Warleader: Focuses on enhancing others' fighting ability instead of acting himself
Me: Thinks Mind Rape is the best spell ever.

[Optimystik]

Looking for more. Nothing too specific, but nothing overly broad.

In addition to yours, I would add:

Conjurer: brings creatures and objects from elsewhere to assist him.
Mentalist: Uses magic to impact the senses and influence others. (combination of Enchantment and Illusion.)
Necromancer: Because it should always be separate from the others.
Diviner: Uses magic to acquire knowledge, predict the future and defeat illusions.
Abjurer: Uses both protective magic, and magic that counters or nullifies the spells of others.

You can probably combine Artifice and Shifting into Transmutation, thus making a mage that can alter the form of function of himself and others as well as enhance their abilities.

So really, not all that different from the existing schools when you get down to it. Making the line between Conjuration and Evocation more clear-cut would be a good place to focus your attention in my opinion. Also, no shadow spells!

[Siegel]

Meta-Magicians (altering magic)
Spiritists (maybe a subform of necromancers)
Mage-Hunters / Anti-Mages
Deamonologists
Sending Mages (teleporting, sending empathic mesegeases etc.)

[Fixer]

A lot of the recommendations you are offering are actually going to be the dominion of the 'divine' side of things.

Magi (the arcane-style) are more external, elemental, and physical. Conjuration (movement of matter), Elements (movement of energy), Healing (returning a body to wholeness), Protection (damage prevention), and Transformation (changing of shape).

Avatars (the divine-style) are more internal, inquisitive, and dealing with souls. Charm (controlling or affecting the mind), Divination (information obtained via unusual senses), Illusion (altering the perceptions), Necromancy (manipulation of souls, returning the dead to life and vice-versa), and Summoning (drawing souls from elsewhere and giving them temporary bodies).

[Dimers]

Thief-mage ... nature specialist ... healer, in some systems/settings ... buffer ... spirit-worker wouldn't be quite the same as conjurer/necromancer ... warrior focusing on self-buffs to improve "normal" offense and defense -- I'd class that with your mageknight by broadening the description just a little.

[Aron Times]

1. Warlock - Pact magic. Gained by making a deal with a powerful entity.
2. Wizard - Book magic. Gained through learning.
3. Bard - Musical magic. Gained through music.
4. Sorcerer - Elemental magic. Gained from an innate elemental source.
5. Swordmage - Sword magic. Gained through martial training.
6. Artificer - Item magic. Gained through artifice.

[Mongoose87]

Belgarath the Sorcerer.