The "iconic" characters -- time to for them to die?

[Smokingmonkee]

I like that idea!

Step 1: Put Krusk in charge of a relationship advice column.
Step 2: ???????
Step 3: Profit.

HEY!! What the heck is step 2?

 

[Hypersmurf]

HEY!! What the heck is step 2?

--> THEN A MIRACLE OCCURS -->

-Hyp.

 

[Gez]

Iconics don't die. They just... fade away. They become has-beens and are forgotten by the younger generations, replaced by other iconics or example characters.

 

[FireLance]

There's no need to get rid of the current Iconics. We just have to make them cooler by adding "the Chaotic" to their names and getting someone to draw a picture of them riding a horse through town and offing a random passer-by.

For example, Mialee the Chaotic could cast Finger of Death.
Hennet the Chaotic could also cast Finger of Death.
Jozan the Chaotic could cast Implosion, followed by Symbol of Pain.
Regdar the Chaotic could decapitate someone with his greatsword.
Krusk the Chaotic could decapitate someone with his greataxe.
Tordek the Chaotic could decapitate someone with his dwarven waraxe.
Alhandra the Chaotic could decapitate someone with her lance (it's okay, she detected evil first).
Ember the Chaotic could decapitate someone with a flurry of shuriken.
Soveliss the Chaotic could decapitate someone with a quiver full of arrows and Manyshot.
Lidda the Chaotic could also decapitate someone with arrows, and get sneak attack damage, too.
Vadania the Chaotic could wildshape into a tyrannosaurus, decapitate someone with a bite and then cast Finger of Death.
Devis the Chaotic could cast Greater Shout on Gimble the Chaotic.
Gimble the Chaotic could Use Magic Device to cast Finger of Death on Devis the Chaotic.

See? We can keep the Iconics because they are now Cool .

 

[Gez]

I want to see Vadania the Chaotic wildshape into a tyrannosaur to off a random passerby while riding a horse.

 

[Testament]

I say we keep them while Lockwood and Ron Spencer are doing such awesome artwork of them (see Complete Divine for Spencer's full page masterwork of Vadania. Or click here http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/cd_gallery/82295.jpg

 

[FireLance]

While we're on the subject...

ICONIC
(with apologies to Alanis Morisette)

A female elf became a mage,
Adventured with a half-orc who can rage.
It's a gnomish bard who acts like a sage.
It's a human cleric too wise for his age.
Aren't they iconic? Don't you think?

Chorus:
It's a human monk with her flurry attacks,
A fighting dwarf with his dwarven waraxe.
It's a ranger elf good at following tracks,
And everyone knows these figures.

Mr half-elf bard thought he'd had it made,
Like his friend the gnome in the illusionist trade.
He was proud to show both his race and his class,
And as the world changed he thought,
"Why couldn't this last?"
Is he still iconic? Do you think?

(repeat chorus)

They have a funny way of sneaking up on you
And you think everything's cliche, and everything is trite.
They have a funny way of helping you out
When you're showing what's going on when a newbie wants to play.

A half-elf druid with a wolf by her side,
A halfling rogue who is trying to hide,
A human paladin with a warhorse to ride,
It's like meeting a sorcerous man
Whose draconic blood is his pride.
Aren't they iconic? Don't you think?
A little too iconic, and I really do think.

(repeat chorus)

Well, they have a funny way of sneaking up on you.
And they have a funny way of helping you out,
Helping you out.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Unfortunately, not My father at times had a hard enough time with his young teenage son rolling strange dice and discussing elves and fairies and goblins around a table with his geeky friends, he certainly was not going to buy me DOLLS ....

Unless of course they had Kung-Fu grip.

Even the 12" GI Joes? Not that they had "kung-fu" grip....

My mother had a hard time buying me the 3-3/4" versions as she couldn't see a girl playing with action figures...... heh. As if I wasn't a "tomboy" then.... now I'm playing a "boy's hobby"...

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Firelance: That was funny, man!!!

 

[Remathilis]

Unlike some of my "distingusihed" compatriots, I think the current Iconics serve their purpose well.

1.) The repitition of them serve as product recognition. At this point, we ALL know who Jozan is, even if we saw his picture in a magazine ad.
2.) It gives a sense of "community" to the D&D world. D&D is not a toolset, its a campaign setting. When Mialee is pictured in the Sunless Citadel and again in Forge of Fury, you feel as if these characters ARE adventuring and growing, not just random elf # 451475.
3.) They give a good jumping off point for new people to customize the common race/class cliches, er combos.
4.) They look sweet as miniatures.
5.) They can be used in product tie-ins (Scourge of Worlds?)
6.) All in all, they aren't designed for players who grew up in the era of 1e-2e, they are new characters for the new generation.