D&D General Fighters of Fantasy Literature - Tier List and Ranking! (Vote once per day through February 14th).

[Cadence]

There have been many heroes in fantasy literature that make there way by (mostly) being a "Fighter". (Maybe Barbarian, Ranger, Battlemaster, Monk, or Rogue multi-classing in there too; and maybe in a fantasy movie).

So which tier do they go in? Who do you love? Vote until 11:59PM ET on February 14th.

Each day you can go to the newest entry and do each of the following:
(1) Add up to two characters to the bottom of a tier.
(2) Move up to two characters up or down one space (either jumping a person, or if they're at the top or bottom of a tier, switching a tier).
(3) Rip on other people's choices or support your own.

Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom to find the latest list. And also feel free to clean up missed rankings and crossed-over postings.

Here's the starting list to build off of.

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien) - Called out Morgoth
Etchelion (Tolkien) - Slayer of Gothmog, Lord of the Balrogs
Gil-Galad (Tolkien) - Led the Elves against Sauron

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien) - "Last of all Hurin Stood alone..." (google it)
Conan (Howard) - I think he was in some movies?
Aragorn (Tolkien) - Over rated?

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook) - Maybe a bit more thief, but good with a blade
Legalos (Tolkien) - Good with a bow
Cugel (Vance) - Survived traveling the Dying Earth. Twice.

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien) - Good shot or lucky shot?
Eomer (Tolkien) - Cavalier?
Merry (Tolkien) - Do we give a 50% kill on the Chief of the Nine?

 

[Cadence]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Etchelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Legalos (Tolkien)
Cugel (Vance)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Merry (Tolkien)

 

[DND_Reborn]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Etchelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Legalos (Tolkien)
Cugel (Vance)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Merry (Tolkien)

Looks solid to me. I'm done.

 

[el-remmen]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Etchelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Legalos (Tolkien)
Cugel (Vance)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Merry (Tolkien)

 

[Mannahnin]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon) - ADDED TO BOTTOM OF TIER. MOVED UP ONE SPACE.
Legolas (Tolkien)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance) - ADDED TO BOTTOM OF TIER.

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Cugel the Clever (Vance) - DOWN ONE SPACE
Bard (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Merry (Tolkien)

Much as I "love" Cugel, he's not powerful at all.
Paks is a badass Paladin; maybe I should have put her in Tier 3, but I think she's a strong 2.
Aillas I just love. Not a high power level, but a great fighter (the best swordsman we see in the Elder Isles), cunning and wise, and an excellent leader and lord.

 

[Cadence]

Much as I "love" Cugel, he's not powerful at all. Paks is a badass Paladin. Aillas I just love.

I can never decide how much is insane luck or if there has to be some toughness and skill in their too.

I need to read the Lyonesse .

Edited: Removed note with a question about a magician.

 

[Laurefindel]

Bumping Bard (from hobbit) from local hero to hero of the realm: direct descendant of the kings of Dale, carries the battle skills (longbow archery) of his house, can understand the speech of animals (sign of noble lineage), and can one-shot a dragon mid-flight by aiming an arrow through missing scales, becomes a wise king and friend of dwarves; that’s beyond local hero tier.

Also bumping Eomer from local hero to hero of the realm: Son of a king, rides with (and leads) the best knights across his father’s realms in defiance of his orders, slays wandering bands of orcs (and uruk-hai), rises to take the place of his fallen older brother, becomes king of his own land, fights alongside and become fast friend of a legendary king (Aragorn). We are witnessing his graduation from local hero to hero of the realm.

Adding Glorfindel (of Rivendell) to Master of the world; one of the last who could claim this title alongside Galadriel.

 

[Mannahnin]

I can never decide how much is insane luck or if there has to be some toughness and skill in their too.

Low cunning and stubbornness, mostly.

I need to read the Lyonesse.

Tied for my favorite series ever, with LotR. Though they are very different.

 

[Cadence]

Bumping Bard (from hobbit) from local hero to hero of the realm: direct descendant of the kings of Dale, carries the battle skills (longbow archery) of his house, can understand the speech of animals (sign of noble lineage), and can one-shot a dragon mid-flight by aiming an arrow through missing scales, becomes a wise king and friend of dwarves; that’s beyond local hero tier.

Also bumping Eomer from local hero to hero of the realm: Son of a king, rides with (and leads) the best knights across his father’s realms in defiance of his orders, slays wandering bands of orcs (and uruk-hai), rises to take the place of his fallen older brother, becomes king of his own land, fights alongside and become fast friend of a legendary king (Aragorn). We are witnessing his graduation from local hero to hero of the realm.

Adding Glorfindel (of Rivendell) to Master of the world; one of the last who could claim this title alongside Galadriel.

Here they are added in and adjusted.

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien) <- Added

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien) <- Up 1 over Cugel (can move up to Tier 2 next time)
Eomer (Tolkien) <- Up 1 over Cugel
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Merry (Tolkien)

 

[Lanefan]

Tier 4 - Masters of the World
Fingolfin (Tolkien)
Ecthelion (Tolkien)
Gil-Galad (Tolkien)
Glorfindel (Tolkien)

Tier 3 - Masters of the Realm
Hurin (Tolkien)
Conan (Howard)
Aragorn (Tolkien)
Corwin of Amber (Zelazny)
Drizzt Do'Urden (Salvatore)
Mandorallen (Eddings) <-- ADDED

Tier 2 - Heroes of the Realm
Morley Dotes (Cook)
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter (Moon)
Legolas (Tolkien)
Aillas of Troicinet (Vance)

Tier 1 - Local Heroes
Bard (Tolkien)
Eomer (Tolkien)
Cugel the Clever (Vance)
Eowyn (Tolkein) <-- ADDED and moved up
Merry (Tolkien)

I'd add a lot more if I could - including about half an army from Song of Ice and Fire.