The Zeitgeist Games Blackmoor books introduced a lot of new cool concepts related to magic. We have the reimagined version of the Wizards Cabal, The Mage Wars, Spell Foci, The White Magic of Skelfer Ard, Elven Elementalism and more.

One thing they didn't really touch on most was perhaps the most interesting Wizard of the Woods (with appologies to Bob Meyer. Robert the Bald is pretty cool too 8) ).

The Zeitgeist Games Books are set in 1030, about 30 years after the end of Dave Arneson's Campaign. While it is established that Pete, the original Wizard of the Woods has perished (as detailed in the FFC), Sildonis has taken over and is now the Wizard of the Woods.

I think it would make sense that Pete and later Sildonis have been able to set up their own order of Wizards within the "Woods domain". Just like the Great Svenny should have been able to train a new generation of Paladins or Cavaliers.

POWERS
The Wizard of the Woods gets his powers from the Super Berry Woods and the Berries Maximum themselves. If you want a less tongue in cheek interpretation of this, I would say the powers are drawn from nature itself, and in particular certain groves where the magic of the Black Rock are chanelled with particular strength. The powers of the Wood Mages could be similar to that of Druids, being able to manipulate plants and maybe animals. Pete was all over the place with Fireballs, raising dragons etc, but perhaps his apprentices have had a more narrow approach since they are still learning while he was the master.

ALLIES
The Wizard of the Woods is known to command Pixies, Treants and probably other fey and woodland creatures. I would imagine he would be respected by the elves (being friends with Lord Menander Ithamis probably helps).

How to distinguish these from Druids? Would they be fun to play? Is this idea compatible with the ZGG verison of the Wizards Cabal? What other changes need to be done?

-Havard

I'd keep it simple: "Wizard of the Woods" is just another name for the druid class.

An interesting note, the ZGG Blackmoor book notes that the Spell Foci for Evocation is the Emerald gem. A nice green gem that would fit perfectly on the staves and wands of a bunch of wizard wandering the trees.

I would run the Order of the Wood as a Mage's Circle of the Evocation school. Pete's Wizard, as Havard noted, was associated with charming things (dragons, pixies) and throwing fireballs. I would infer that the Circle emphasizes Evocation with banned schools in Necromancy and Conjuration. In this manner, the Wizards of the Wood can and are known for the following:

Evocation: Elemental magic of fire, ice, and lightning

Enchantment: Influencing hearts and inducing fear. Famously used to charm the fey as well as dragons.

Transmutation: Ability to take the shape of dragons or local fauna.