D&D 5E Who are the famous characters of D&D

[Remathilis]

So, if we're living in the post-Avengers world of brands IP, who is the famous and beloved characters of D&D? Admittedly, thier IP stable is smaller and less well known than Marvel, DC, Star Wars, or similar, but who would be the characters to build the brand around in terms of t shirts and action figures and lunch boxes.

To start:
Drizzt is the natural starting point. I don't think any other character has as much name recognition. He's like Superman; loved by some, hated by others, known by all.
Drizzt's buddies (Buernor, Wulfgar) would be easy to sell with him. As would his stable of nemesi (Artemis, etc).
Eliminster.
Raistlin and the Heroes of the Lance. A bit harder sell due to the different world, but probably the only rival to Drizzt in name recognition.
Strahd Von Zarovich. Iconic vampire.
Lord Soth.
Xanathar. A beholder with a name and back story.
Accerack. Iconic lich. Tied to an iconic locale.
Lolth, Tiamat, and other evil deities of iconic races.
The demon lords, esp Orcus, Grazt and Demogorgon.

Who else? The 3e iconics (Tordek, Mialee, etc)? Mordenkainen, Bigby and other spell namers? Who else stands out among the (in)famous of D&D?

 

[Morrus]

I don't think there are many famous characters. Those who have been in a bestseller novel, perhaps.

I suppose it depends if we mean famous generally, or famous to D&D tabletop gamers. The former list is such shorter than the latter.

 

[delericho]

Drizzt, Eliminster, Raistlin, Strahd, Vecna.

Oh, and Damodar.

 

[Mephista]

Iggwilv along with the demon lords. You can't talk about the Abyss without referencing her Demonicon. On the same page, the archdevils are fairly recognizable.
Lolth, Tiamat, Grummsh, Vecna, Bahamut, Moradin. Mystra is pretty famous as well as the most prominant goddess of the Forgotten Realms.

I've never heard of Xandathar or Accerack, especially when the Vecna is the iconic lich. The spell namers are known for their spells, but most people don't actually know them. I'm going to argue that to most people Bigby isn't a person, its a set of spells.

Farideh, Lorcan and crew are growing in popularity, as kind of a third novel path alongside the Drizz't and Elminster ones. Although, I find it rather amusing that Drizz't isn't even the hero of his own novel line anymore - he's more of a narrator that gets into the occasional fight than actually a catalyst.

 

[Mephista]

Book of Vile Darkness is probably the most iconic artifact, if that counts

 

[Remathilis]

I don't think there are many famous characters. Those who have been in a bestseller novel, perhaps.

I suppose it depends if we mean famous generally, or famous to D&D tabletop gamers. The former list is such shorter than the latter.

In essence, who could make the jump from the latter list to the former. I mean, even among comic book fans the names Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket weren't especially well known, but now they are household names like Captain America or Thor.

Who among the D&D crowd would be poised to make a leap towards mainstream?

 

[Eejit]

Tiamat, and the other 80's cartoon characters. Characters from the Baldur's Gate CRPGs - particularly Minsc and Boo.

Even most of my geek friends and family would be hard-pressed to name a "D&D character". From what they understand the whole point is to come up with your own characters.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[GameOgre]

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2...geons_and_dragons_by_massimoatlas-d7boxpl.jpg

WARDUKE!

Really all other Characters like Zit Do'Urdun and Elmuncher are just posers.

 

[Parmandur]

A twist on the question: who gets name-checked in the Core books?

Name escapes me at the moment, but the Tomb of Horrors demilich gets brought up multiple times.

Obould the Super-Orc gets a sidebar to himself.

Strand, all over the place.

The Demon Lords and Devil Princes get enumerated (a Hell AP sooner or latter seems likely).