Depends on the area. Back home, mages rule the land. Literally. There's a caste system in place -- coming from a long line of powerful mages tends to get you places, so long as you can stand the rampant backstabbing and political intrigue.

Other places, mages are herded into little towers and clumped together for the good of the people, their abilities feared as much as they're needed.

And other places still, mages are bound, gagged, and leashed, subdued and unleashed on unsuspecting foes like warhounds.

[ He sighs wistfully. ]

Ah, how I miss Thedas already.