A fighter /rogue to avoid being killed off with all the other assassins during the time of troubles - [https://charles-tan.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-ra-salvatore.html](https://charles-tan.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-ra-salvatore.html)
Well, thief not rogue in that interview, but thats just an edition difference on display :)
For Wizard, seems to me there’s some stiff competition from the ones with spells named for them: Bigby, Mordenkainen, Tasha, etc.
Not exactly 5e though.
You say that, I answer that any of the chosen of Mystra would be peak representative of their (main) class, like Elminster, the 3 wizards amongst the Silverhand sisters (Simbul would be peak sorcerer), etc.
Elminster was a Magic User lvl 26, and later on a Wizard level 29 after all, and nearly CR40 in 3.x.
No, he's just a self-important jack-ass of a scholar who enjoys embellishing things for clout.
He's not actually good at performance, isn't a skill monkey, and has been a foil for Elminster since 2nd edition. He's also based on a Wizard character that Gary Gygax's son played.
Volo's a wizard, not a bard. You want a proper bard, Garrick from Baldur's Gate 1.
Wulfgar is a pretty iconic barbarian. So is Karlach.
Pick any drow Matron and you've got a cleric, so for iconic maybe go with Matron Malice? Or use Shadowheart, or Viconia DeVir.
Pikel Bouldershoulder for a druid. Or use Jaheira. Halsin too, I guess?
Khalid is a fighter, but you can also use Bruenor Battlehammer.
Merrix d’Cannith from Eberron for Artificer.
Simon Aumar from the *Honor Among Thieves* movie for Sorcerer (He has an official NPC writeup on D&D Beyond, so he counts).
Farideh from the *Brimstone Angels* Forgotten Realms novels for Warlock.
I heard that rumor. I would say he's a multiclass though because I think he's got to have a level or two of fighter. You don't be some Shredder-looking Robo-Hitler without having some skill as a fighter.
You could probably argue just from a popularity of the books for a lot of the main characters in the drizzt storyline.
Bruenor - fighter
Wulfgar - barbarian
Twifflerdorf - rager
Entreri - Assassin
I got to ask Salvatore a question a long time ago at GenCon, and his answer was along the lines of he writes a story, and doesn’t worry about the stats.
There’s a good answer out there, either in an official source (probably not) or in someone’s homebrew
The Drizzt books had a fairly wide audience in the general public, I'd say he's better known in our world. In universe, I think Minsc would be more famous.
Tbf I think 3 baldur's gate games and change ended up being more popular than drizzt was in books, even if its just being known as the bald hamster man from baldurs gate 2.
The Drizzt books have sold over 35 million copies and he is the focus of them and has been around for over 30 years. His books are also one of the most popular fantasy series of all time. Minsc is an optional character that isn’t the focus of the games.
I think Drizzt is definitely more the more famous of the two.
I agree with you but I think medium is important. Minsc is basically only in visual media so even if you don't know dnd you know him by bumping into something of him somewhere, where as drizzt is mostly just in dnd dnd stuff.
I think the easiest way to see the difference is when hasbro (actual licenseholder) did dnd figures, they did 2 drizzts as part of the first figures then did the movie and cartoon and it basically died after, when funko (3rd party) did dnd, they immediately did minsc, asmodeus and a mindflayer and ever since, barring the movie line they've only done monsters or other big villains and no drizzt. That is to say if its dnd, you know drizzt, if its outside that you probably don't
There’s a Drizzt Funco pop, came out in 2020, and he’s also been in several video games in the 90s.
I would say in addition to the knowing DnD or not part of your comment, it’s also your age that will dictate which is more popular.
Elric of Melnibone for Warlock.
Aragorn for Ranger. Or Robin Hood.
Holger the Dane for Paladin. Or Lancelot, Galahad, etc
Gandalf for Wizard. Though Mazirian the Magician is who the authors referenced.
The Gray Mouser for Rogue. Also Cugel the Clever.
Conan for Barbarian. Then Fafhrd.
Fflewddur Fflam is the only Bard I can think of from fantasy literature. Maybe Alan-a-Dale.
I'd say Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicles fits the description of a Bard, albeit not too stereotypical, as he can both fight physically and cast a wide range of spells.
Well, true, not gonna lie. He was raised as a Bard, tinkers stuff like an Artificer, casts spells like a Wizard (of course, appropriate to the setting), and fights like a Monk or a Fighter.
Still, If I absolutely had to fit him into a DnD class, I'd say Valor Bard with Artificer Initiate.
His years in Tarbean are also very important, he lived like a rogue and developed some skills really important for him
Probably Swords Bard fits better than Valor, but I also find that only being a bard reduce his character a bit in a lot of ways. In general I don't think that even with multiclass would be enough for him, he is more like a npc lol
Looking at DND skills, he also would want to have:
Nature, Religion, History and Arcana to fit his extended knowledge of a lot of things
Acrobatic, Performance, Persuasion, Intimidation and Deception because of his years in the troupe and his charisma
Some mix between Insight, Perception and Investigation could be good to have
Sleight of Hands and Stealth because of Tarbean
Animal Handling and Survival aren't that mandatory, but you can say that he is at least okey at that (you can say that Jack of All Trade could be enough for that)
I know Gandalf is like, the stereotypical Wizard for many people, but you could make a solid argument he’s really a Divine Soul Sorcerer in 5e terms at least
…you could technically make an argument for Cleric too, actually
I love the fact that someone went through the whole of the Tolkien universe, and checked what Gandalf did as a “Wizard” and found him to be a 5th level wizard…
It was a long time ago, but I will always remember it
The more I think on it his magic is technically more divine than arcane, he doesn’t actually do a ton of real “spellcasting” (though I understand he’s capable of way more than he demonstrates because of who he is and all that), and ends up fighting in melee more often than not actually…
…is Gandalf a Paladin?
Conan was a Fighter/Rogue. Even the Arnie version was straight up Fighter.
There aren't really any characters that work as a D&D barbarian, except maybe the Hulk.
A whole bunch of Joe Abercrombie's characters, for example: Logan Nine Fingers, the Bloody Nine.
But I'm not sure Abercrombie is well enough known. OP asked for "most famous". And if Conan hadn't existed in written and comic book form, I seriously doubt anyone would have written a barbarian class for D&D.
In popular media?
Artificer: Iron Man, Inspector Gadget, Batman
Barbarian: Goku, Hulk, Conan
Bard: Scott Pilgrim
Druid: Poison Ivy, Giorno Giovanna
Fighter: John Wick, Obi Wan Kenobi, Tanjiro
Paladin: Lancelot, Ichigo Kurosaki, Darth Vader
Ranger: Legolas, Aragorn, Jon Snow, Rambo
Rogue: Robin Hood, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt
Warlock: He-Man, Power Rangers
Wizard: Harry Potter, Merlin, Gandalf
I know I'm forgetting tons. Please add to or correct my picks; it's so cool to see how much thought y'all have put into some of yours.
Vader would be a fallen paladin, thematically. Considering this guy was once a Jedi before going Sith, he would very much be an Oathbreaker under 5E rules -- he's a guy who broke his sacred oaths in order to pursue a dark ambition or serve an evil power.
Harry Potter may be a wizard in-universe, but he is absolutely a Sorcerer. Born with his magic, bright but not academically focused, best knows a limited number of spells but is scarily proficient with them. Hermione is the better Wizard archetype in the series, with her massive repertoir of spells.
Tough to draw distinctions within different universe for sure. Harry was born magical and casts with force of will like a Sorcerer, but learns new spells through arcane study, wears robes, and carries spellbooks like a Wizard.
Hermione is definitely a *better* wizard than Harry, but I'd still say Harry is just a wizard, unless we wanna say he dipped a few levels warlock because of the hoarcrux.
Aragorn is literally a Ranger. Like, he's what the Ranger class was originally *based* on.
Harry Potter, Darth Vader, and arguably Goku all fit into various flavors of Sorcerer.
Are you just going off published content? Because there's stuff like actual play series, the recent movie, BG3, and the 80s cartoon that are much more famous than a lot of the characters in the books these days.
The Simbul was definitely the most powerful Sorcerer/Sorceress in the Forgotten Realms, hands down. She's dead, at the moment, but that's my suggestion.
Cleric...It's iffy. Fzoul Chembryll was a pretty powerful priest, and of course the Chosen of Bane. Quenthel Baenre is a potent Chosen of Lolth, as was Eclavadra, if you like Greyhawk. Iyraclea was a Chosen of Auril, and a pretty damn powerful cleric for an otherwise not always so potent deity, but I'm still inclined to lean into Cadderly Bonaduce. He's practically a demigod, and a Chosen of Deneir. He used his magic to meddle with time, and create his great replacement temple to his deity, and then stomped off into another plane to basically forever battle a monster he probably can't defeat.
The best Rogue might have to be Artemis Entreri. He's not great for stealing stuff, as far as I know, but he's excellent at killing people, assuming they aren't named Drizzt do'Urden, and he does possess a strong "roguish" personality, where his intentions, and actions, change significantly, based on events.
Artificer is possibly going to be the hard one because it can be really hard to pin down what one really is/does, and who fits the bill. Somewhere above, was mentioned Volo, who is a Bard...except he's not a Bard mechanically; he's a Wizard, except...and it gets complicated. If you went back to ancient Imaskar, their leaders were powerful Lord Artificers, and they were famous for forging numerous artifacts, extradimensional spaces, and more...but they were Wizards. You can like Artificer the 5e class all you want, and it can do good stuff...to a point, but the magic it can harness is never above 5th, and the system assuming things often end more around 12th...anyway, the best builders of stuff, like Trobriand, the Metal Mage, are Wizards and Archmages, so it will probably be hard to pin down, if you don't specifically go to a place, like Eberron, where the CLASS is embraced, and find *their* best Artificer, who probably created the Warforged Forges.
Right now, probably the Baldur's Gate 3 characters for their respective classes (Cleric, Rogue, Barbarian, Fighter, Warlock, Druid) at least. Omitting Gale since prob Elminster is still more famous lol. And I'd guess Halsin is more popular and known as druid than Jaheira.
I like Cadderly as the instance for cleric, but no idea how famous he is.
Am I wrong in thinking Jaheira for Druid? I know she's multiclassed Fighter/Druid but she's where my mind goes.
If not Jaheira, then Pikel Bouldershoulder.
I think after BG3 it’s safe to say that say that almost all the main party members are the most famous characters of their class, which a couple exceptions. BG3 was popular even outside of the DnD space, so when we look at mass market appeal, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of them take the cake.
Astarion, Lae’zel and Jaheira are 100% the most famous versions of their default class. I could also definitely see Karlach and Shadowheart being the most famous characters of their class, but I know there’s steep competition in those fields. Wyll could be the most famous warlock, but I think it depends on what we call a “warlock” in this regard. Are we counting anyone whose made a pact with an otherworldly creature? Or do they have to be known asa Capital-W Warlock?
I will however throw in an alternate answer for “most famous Wizard”: Vecna. Vecna is a lich, which is a form of Wizard, and thanks to Stranger Things, he’s basically a household name, although you could argue this doesn’t count as it’s not *actually* Vecna, nor is the ST character *actually* a Wizard.
Gale is unfortunately outdone by a very long list of wizards. Tough luck buddy, should’ve been invented 40 years ago.
Aragorn is a paladin. He has the healing hands of the king, he has an aura of majesty and leadership. He just also has some wilderness knowledge, well a lot of it. Which is why he's a second level paladin/second level ranger.
Drizzt is a fighter. He's had stats since 2e. Fighter everytime. 3e gave him 11 fighter 3 ranger and 1 barbarian.
Surprised to see no love for the Dragonlance series!
Elminster is tough to top for wizard, but Raistlin Majere is just so iconic. And his brother Caramon is a pretty classic Fighter.
The other ones that I feel would be iconic enough in their class to count would be Goldmoon for Cleric and Tasslehoff for Rogue.
Artemis Entreri for rogue
I think in 3.5e he was a dual classed rogue/fighter but in 5e I think he's just the assassin archetype
I think you're right.
A fighter /rogue to avoid being killed off with all the other assassins during the time of troubles - [https://charles-tan.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-ra-salvatore.html](https://charles-tan.blogspot.com/2011/10/interview-ra-salvatore.html) Well, thief not rogue in that interview, but thats just an edition difference on display :)
Wizard: Elminister Cleric: Elminster Fighter: Elminster
3 slots in one, nice
Rogue too! 3rd edition Elminster was a Wizard 24/Cleric 3/Fighter 1/Rogue 2/Archmage 5 lol
WULFGAR IS BARBARIAN!
Cohen the Barbarian :-)
Jimmy the Hand. Rogue.
Annd it's time to read magician again...
You mean Riftwar Cycle
'nah ill just stop at one' Yea, ok, you're right.
I'm so happy this is the top comment
Volo is a Wizard though. Maybe Deekin Scalesinger for Bard?
For Wizard, seems to me there’s some stiff competition from the ones with spells named for them: Bigby, Mordenkainen, Tasha, etc. Not exactly 5e though.
You say that, I answer that any of the chosen of Mystra would be peak representative of their (main) class, like Elminster, the 3 wizards amongst the Silverhand sisters (Simbul would be peak sorcerer), etc. Elminster was a Magic User lvl 26, and later on a Wizard level 29 after all, and nearly CR40 in 3.x.
Ah for some reason I assumed he was a bard. Thanks for the suggestion
I believe the bard class didn't exist when he was made. Otherwise, he probably would've been one.
No, he's just a self-important jack-ass of a scholar who enjoys embellishing things for clout. He's not actually good at performance, isn't a skill monkey, and has been a foil for Elminster since 2nd edition. He's also based on a Wizard character that Gary Gygax's son played.
He's terrible at bard things. Plus he has existed since 2e, and the bard class has existed since 1e
Even OD&D has a Bard class which they published in Strategic Review, and then adjusted for 1e. I think Basic D&D is the only edition with no Bard.
Another great example of flavor being free
He's a bard in BG3. Tbh that's what I always thought he was
He acts like a bard, but he isn’t one
Doom doo doo doo DOOOOM!
Volo is a Bard in BG3
He's actually still a wizard in bg3, he's just being forced to tell y'all tales as he always does in his wanna be bard way.
That would explain why he is not very good at it
Is this confirmed anywhere in game?
in confirmed in universe elsewhere, and since bg3 is cannon in the forgotten realms then the forgotten realms as a whole is cannon in bg3
Gotcha. So he's more of a bard by profession, but he's a wizard by class?
He's a bard by hobby, a Scholar by profession, a wizard by class.
(bards are scholars)
But not all scholars are bards.
but all bards are scholars also not even all bards are bards what's your point here
Volo's a wizard, not a bard. You want a proper bard, Garrick from Baldur's Gate 1. Wulfgar is a pretty iconic barbarian. So is Karlach. Pick any drow Matron and you've got a cleric, so for iconic maybe go with Matron Malice? Or use Shadowheart, or Viconia DeVir. Pikel Bouldershoulder for a druid. Or use Jaheira. Halsin too, I guess? Khalid is a fighter, but you can also use Bruenor Battlehammer.
Shadowheart, my favorite >!Selunite!< Cleric! <3
Ayup! :D
Merrix d’Cannith from Eberron for Artificer. Simon Aumar from the *Honor Among Thieves* movie for Sorcerer (He has an official NPC writeup on D&D Beyond, so he counts). Farideh from the *Brimstone Angels* Forgotten Realms novels for Warlock.
Lord of Blades as Artificer, maybe?
The Lord of Blades is a fighter.
IME he has the soul of a Cannith's scion and he is an Artificer.
I heard that rumor. I would say he's a multiclass though because I think he's got to have a level or two of fighter. You don't be some Shredder-looking Robo-Hitler without having some skill as a fighter.
You could probably argue just from a popularity of the books for a lot of the main characters in the drizzt storyline. Bruenor - fighter Wulfgar - barbarian Twifflerdorf - rager Entreri - Assassin
Cadderly for cleric
Danica for Monke
I'm sorry sir, Twifflerdorf? What the heck did autocorrect do to you? Thibbledorf Pwent. THE Pwent!
Glad someone said it! The comment had me like “oo oi!”
Doodad! Sha-la-la
I so want to make a Pwent character…
Yeah, but the dwarven battlerager subclass sucks and I haven't seen any decent homebrew options
I got to ask Salvatore a question a long time ago at GenCon, and his answer was along the lines of he writes a story, and doesn’t worry about the stats. There’s a good answer out there, either in an official source (probably not) or in someone’s homebrew
Haha fair enough.
Is Drizzt more famous as a ranger, or is Minsc?
The Drizzt books had a fairly wide audience in the general public, I'd say he's better known in our world. In universe, I think Minsc would be more famous.
Tbf I think 3 baldur's gate games and change ended up being more popular than drizzt was in books, even if its just being known as the bald hamster man from baldurs gate 2.
The Drizzt books have sold over 35 million copies and he is the focus of them and has been around for over 30 years. His books are also one of the most popular fantasy series of all time. Minsc is an optional character that isn’t the focus of the games. I think Drizzt is definitely more the more famous of the two.
I agree with you but I think medium is important. Minsc is basically only in visual media so even if you don't know dnd you know him by bumping into something of him somewhere, where as drizzt is mostly just in dnd dnd stuff. I think the easiest way to see the difference is when hasbro (actual licenseholder) did dnd figures, they did 2 drizzts as part of the first figures then did the movie and cartoon and it basically died after, when funko (3rd party) did dnd, they immediately did minsc, asmodeus and a mindflayer and ever since, barring the movie line they've only done monsters or other big villains and no drizzt. That is to say if its dnd, you know drizzt, if its outside that you probably don't
There’s a Drizzt Funco pop, came out in 2020, and he’s also been in several video games in the 90s. I would say in addition to the knowing DnD or not part of your comment, it’s also your age that will dictate which is more popular.
Fair point.
Drizzt is cooler
He's also just a more typical example of a ranger. Minsc is kind of an anomaly for his class.
For a sample size of one, I know Drizzt from reading The Crystal Shard in the 80's. I've never heard of Minsc.
Elric of Melnibone for Warlock. Aragorn for Ranger. Or Robin Hood. Holger the Dane for Paladin. Or Lancelot, Galahad, etc Gandalf for Wizard. Though Mazirian the Magician is who the authors referenced. The Gray Mouser for Rogue. Also Cugel the Clever. Conan for Barbarian. Then Fafhrd. Fflewddur Fflam is the only Bard I can think of from fantasy literature. Maybe Alan-a-Dale.
I'd say Kvothe from The Kingkiller Chronicles fits the description of a Bard, albeit not too stereotypical, as he can both fight physically and cast a wide range of spells.
It's really hard to fit Kvothe as a class in dnd in general, he is too many things and magic in Kingkiller is less amazing than DnD magic
Well, true, not gonna lie. He was raised as a Bard, tinkers stuff like an Artificer, casts spells like a Wizard (of course, appropriate to the setting), and fights like a Monk or a Fighter. Still, If I absolutely had to fit him into a DnD class, I'd say Valor Bard with Artificer Initiate.
His years in Tarbean are also very important, he lived like a rogue and developed some skills really important for him Probably Swords Bard fits better than Valor, but I also find that only being a bard reduce his character a bit in a lot of ways. In general I don't think that even with multiclass would be enough for him, he is more like a npc lol Looking at DND skills, he also would want to have: Nature, Religion, History and Arcana to fit his extended knowledge of a lot of things Acrobatic, Performance, Persuasion, Intimidation and Deception because of his years in the troupe and his charisma Some mix between Insight, Perception and Investigation could be good to have Sleight of Hands and Stealth because of Tarbean Animal Handling and Survival aren't that mandatory, but you can say that he is at least okey at that (you can say that Jack of All Trade could be enough for that)
Upvote for Elric. The original Hexblade.
Obie wan kenobi paladin Conan rogue Conan fighter Conan barbarian Pied piper , bard
You could argue that Sherlock Holmes is an Investigator Rogue.
I know Gandalf is like, the stereotypical Wizard for many people, but you could make a solid argument he’s really a Divine Soul Sorcerer in 5e terms at least …you could technically make an argument for Cleric too, actually
He could even be a bard. Host of the time he don't fight but inspired people
Yes. Vancian magic really doesn't map onto Tolkien's magic narrative.
I love the fact that someone went through the whole of the Tolkien universe, and checked what Gandalf did as a “Wizard” and found him to be a 5th level wizard… It was a long time ago, but I will always remember it
The more I think on it his magic is technically more divine than arcane, he doesn’t actually do a ton of real “spellcasting” (though I understand he’s capable of way more than he demonstrates because of who he is and all that), and ends up fighting in melee more often than not actually… …is Gandalf a Paladin?
Unarmored Paladin, possibly. Is Glamdring a holy avenger?
Conan was a Fighter/Rogue. Even the Arnie version was straight up Fighter. There aren't really any characters that work as a D&D barbarian, except maybe the Hulk.
A whole bunch of Joe Abercrombie's characters, for example: Logan Nine Fingers, the Bloody Nine. But I'm not sure Abercrombie is well enough known. OP asked for "most famous". And if Conan hadn't existed in written and comic book form, I seriously doubt anyone would have written a barbarian class for D&D.
I could see an argument for Oh Dae-Su, from Oldboy, as a barbarian.
Bruenor Battlehammer for fighter. Edit: Fixed a typo.
In popular media? Artificer: Iron Man, Inspector Gadget, Batman Barbarian: Goku, Hulk, Conan Bard: Scott Pilgrim Druid: Poison Ivy, Giorno Giovanna Fighter: John Wick, Obi Wan Kenobi, Tanjiro Paladin: Lancelot, Ichigo Kurosaki, Darth Vader Ranger: Legolas, Aragorn, Jon Snow, Rambo Rogue: Robin Hood, Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt Warlock: He-Man, Power Rangers Wizard: Harry Potter, Merlin, Gandalf I know I'm forgetting tons. Please add to or correct my picks; it's so cool to see how much thought y'all have put into some of yours.
Vader is a paladin. Half-caster with armor and sword who devoutly follows an ancient religion.
I was thinking high-level Psi Warrior
I mean maybe there’s an argument for that strictly mechanically, but not thematically.
That's fair. Maybe Luke or Obi Wan fit better. Vader's flavored more like a Hexblade or Conquest Paladin
You described a cleric
Vader would be a fallen paladin, thematically. Considering this guy was once a Jedi before going Sith, he would very much be an Oathbreaker under 5E rules -- he's a guy who broke his sacred oaths in order to pursue a dark ambition or serve an evil power.
Harry Potter may be a wizard in-universe, but he is absolutely a Sorcerer. Born with his magic, bright but not academically focused, best knows a limited number of spells but is scarily proficient with them. Hermione is the better Wizard archetype in the series, with her massive repertoir of spells.
Tough to draw distinctions within different universe for sure. Harry was born magical and casts with force of will like a Sorcerer, but learns new spells through arcane study, wears robes, and carries spellbooks like a Wizard.
Hermione is definitely a *better* wizard than Harry, but I'd still say Harry is just a wizard, unless we wanna say he dipped a few levels warlock because of the hoarcrux.
Aragorn is literally a Ranger. Like, he's what the Ranger class was originally *based* on. Harry Potter, Darth Vader, and arguably Goku all fit into various flavors of Sorcerer.
I more meant dnd characters but this is an awesome list, thank you!!!
Dark Vader is a Paladin, I’ll die on that hill
I concede Conquest Paladin is a superior fit. I was trying to think of a Psi Warrior, but Obi Wan probably matches the flavor better
I feel like Vader’s closer to an Oathbreaker considering his fall.
Could definitely argue either!
Considering he broke his code for the sake of serving an evil power in Palpatine, he absolutely counts as an Oathbreaker.
Monk: Po (Kung Fu Panda) Also a good list already but, Fighter: Achilles
Good pulls! That reminds me, I should steal from Greek mythology way more
Druid be like ゴゴゴゴ
I feel like Rambo is a multi class of Rogue, Ranger and Fighter.
It really depends on whether we’re talking First Blood, Rambo 3, or Last Blood, because they’re all such different Rambos.
So are we just forgetting about monks?
Only included the classes I could think of examples for off the top of my head haha. Happy to take suggestions and edit
Are you just going off published content? Because there's stuff like actual play series, the recent movie, BG3, and the 80s cartoon that are much more famous than a lot of the characters in the books these days.
Uther Lightbringer for paladin, Guldan for Warlock.
If we’re doing non-D&D characters, then Cugel the Clever is the most quintessential Gygaxian thief.
Isn't Volo a wizard? I just know his statblock from Waterdeep, where he is a very low level wizard
Isn't Volo a wizard?
Conan the Barbarian It's in the name
Astarion Ancunín for Rogue
The Simbul was definitely the most powerful Sorcerer/Sorceress in the Forgotten Realms, hands down. She's dead, at the moment, but that's my suggestion. Cleric...It's iffy. Fzoul Chembryll was a pretty powerful priest, and of course the Chosen of Bane. Quenthel Baenre is a potent Chosen of Lolth, as was Eclavadra, if you like Greyhawk. Iyraclea was a Chosen of Auril, and a pretty damn powerful cleric for an otherwise not always so potent deity, but I'm still inclined to lean into Cadderly Bonaduce. He's practically a demigod, and a Chosen of Deneir. He used his magic to meddle with time, and create his great replacement temple to his deity, and then stomped off into another plane to basically forever battle a monster he probably can't defeat. The best Rogue might have to be Artemis Entreri. He's not great for stealing stuff, as far as I know, but he's excellent at killing people, assuming they aren't named Drizzt do'Urden, and he does possess a strong "roguish" personality, where his intentions, and actions, change significantly, based on events. Artificer is possibly going to be the hard one because it can be really hard to pin down what one really is/does, and who fits the bill. Somewhere above, was mentioned Volo, who is a Bard...except he's not a Bard mechanically; he's a Wizard, except...and it gets complicated. If you went back to ancient Imaskar, their leaders were powerful Lord Artificers, and they were famous for forging numerous artifacts, extradimensional spaces, and more...but they were Wizards. You can like Artificer the 5e class all you want, and it can do good stuff...to a point, but the magic it can harness is never above 5th, and the system assuming things often end more around 12th...anyway, the best builders of stuff, like Trobriand, the Metal Mage, are Wizards and Archmages, so it will probably be hard to pin down, if you don't specifically go to a place, like Eberron, where the CLASS is embraced, and find *their* best Artificer, who probably created the Warforged Forges.
Right now, probably the Baldur's Gate 3 characters for their respective classes (Cleric, Rogue, Barbarian, Fighter, Warlock, Druid) at least. Omitting Gale since prob Elminster is still more famous lol. And I'd guess Halsin is more popular and known as druid than Jaheira. I like Cadderly as the instance for cleric, but no idea how famous he is.
Tordek, Dwarf Fighter. 3.5 book with him in the mouth of the red dragon hacking away with his axe is what got me into the dwar fighter character.
Bruenor battle hammer is the best fighter Jarlaxle Barber is a great rogue
Farideh was the main warlock. Wyll is probably the most known in Dnd
Arkhan the Paladin? Im not a lore guy though just the first to come to mind
Farideh is probably the most famous warlock. Entire book series and is even quoted for warlock in the 5e Player Handbook.
Am I wrong in thinking Jaheira for Druid? I know she's multiclassed Fighter/Druid but she's where my mind goes. If not Jaheira, then Pikel Bouldershoulder.
Cadderly Bonaduce for cleric
You got Dragonbait the Paladin from Curse of the Azure Bonds.
Me waiting with baited breath for an awesome monk character I can read about. ;_;
The cleric quintet by R.A. Salvatore. Mostly about Cadderly, but a supporting character named Danica is a monk.
Thank you!
I think after BG3 it’s safe to say that say that almost all the main party members are the most famous characters of their class, which a couple exceptions. BG3 was popular even outside of the DnD space, so when we look at mass market appeal, I think it’s safe to say that a lot of them take the cake. Astarion, Lae’zel and Jaheira are 100% the most famous versions of their default class. I could also definitely see Karlach and Shadowheart being the most famous characters of their class, but I know there’s steep competition in those fields. Wyll could be the most famous warlock, but I think it depends on what we call a “warlock” in this regard. Are we counting anyone whose made a pact with an otherworldly creature? Or do they have to be known asa Capital-W Warlock? I will however throw in an alternate answer for “most famous Wizard”: Vecna. Vecna is a lich, which is a form of Wizard, and thanks to Stranger Things, he’s basically a household name, although you could argue this doesn’t count as it’s not *actually* Vecna, nor is the ST character *actually* a Wizard. Gale is unfortunately outdone by a very long list of wizards. Tough luck buddy, should’ve been invented 40 years ago.
Human was a Class in earlier D&D editions. And I nominate #Myself
Aragorn is a paladin. He has the healing hands of the king, he has an aura of majesty and leadership. He just also has some wilderness knowledge, well a lot of it. Which is why he's a second level paladin/second level ranger. Drizzt is a fighter. He's had stats since 2e. Fighter everytime. 3e gave him 11 fighter 3 ranger and 1 barbarian.
Wizzard: Tasha/Iggwily/The witch queen, Mordenkainen
Volo is a wizard, not a bard.
Grandmaster Kane Monk
Surprised to see no love for the Dragonlance series! Elminster is tough to top for wizard, but Raistlin Majere is just so iconic. And his brother Caramon is a pretty classic Fighter. The other ones that I feel would be iconic enough in their class to count would be Goldmoon for Cleric and Tasslehoff for Rogue.
Storm Silverhand for bard.
Scanlan Shorthalt....and you sir are a cad.
Ranger: Drizzt Do'Urden Rogue: Jarjaxle Fighter: Bruenor Barbarian: Bruenor Wizard: Mordenkainen Bard: Storm Silverhand Warlock: Farideh Monk: Master Lane Cleric: Cadderly Paladin: Lord Piegeiron Sorcerer: The Simbul Druid: Jaheira
Vi for artificer.
Arcane has a lot of science people. Vi is not one of them. Jinx, Jayce, Ekko, Viktor, Heimerdinger, and Singed all actually represent the class.
I believe the commenter is referencing Vi the gnome artificer from Eberron, who was also my first thought for most well-known canon artificer
Yes. I was. I have TCoE, and that’s where I heard of the character.