D&D General Who are the iconic NPCs in each D&D campaign setting?

[steeldragons]

These guys seem to be the iconic figures in Wild Witchlight.
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That's cuz they are/were. hahaha.

 

[JEB]

SpellJammer/Tears of Sylune FR, Rock of Bral, "the Juggler"

Who is the Juggler?

 

[JEB]

Just out of morbid curiosity, I threw ChatGPT at the question for Nentir Vale:

The Nentir Vale setting from Dungeons & Dragons, particularly prominent in the 4th Edition, features several iconic NPCs that have become representatives of the campaign. Here are some of the key figures associated with Nentir Vale across various media:

1. Erathis​

• Role: Goddess of civilization, law, and invention.
• Evidence: Frequently referenced in core rulebooks, such as the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide. She also appears in Divine Power, emphasizing her significance in the lore of the Nentir Vale.
• Popularity: As a deity representing civilization, Erathis resonates with players interested in themes of order and community-building.

2. Vecna​

• Role: The Whispered One, a powerful lich turned god.
• Evidence: Vecna has been a major villain in many D&D products, including The Shadowfell: Gloomwrought and Beyond and The Last King of Karak. He appears in various adventure modules as a central antagonist.
• Popularity: Vecna's storied history in D&D, from earlier editions to the 4th Edition, has made him a fan-favorite villain.

3. Tharizdun​

• Role: The Chained God, embodiment of chaos and destruction.
• Evidence: Featured prominently in the Manual of the Planes and referenced in adventure paths like The Shattered Star. His cult and influence are major plot points in many campaigns set in Nentir Vale.
• Popularity: His complex nature and the mystery surrounding him attract players who enjoy darker, more chaotic narratives.

4. Tiamat​

• Role: The five-headed dragon goddess.
• Evidence: Appears in many Nentir Vale adventures, including Scales of War and various dragon-themed campaigns. Tiamat is often referenced in discussions of evil deities and iconic villains in D&D lore.
• Popularity: Tiamat’s iconic status as the queen of evil dragons makes her a perennial favorite among players who love dragon lore.

5. Kord​

• Role: God of strength and storms.
• Evidence: Frequently referenced in campaigns focusing on martial prowess and adventure. Kord appears in several sourcebooks, including Player's Handbook and Divine Power.
• Popularity: His focus on heroism and physicality resonates with many players who prefer martial classes.

6. Lord Eredin​

• Role: An influential figure in the Vale's politics and conflicts.
• Evidence: Featured in the Nentir Vale setting book and various adventure modules, often as a power player within the Vale's intricate political landscape.
• Popularity: His machinations provide rich storytelling opportunities, making him a favorite among DMs.

7. The Raven Queen​

• Role: Goddess of death and fate.
• Evidence: A central figure in several adventures and lore pieces, especially in the Dark Sun and Shadowfell materials. She represents a unique aspect of the Nentir Vale’s mythology.
• Popularity: Her enigmatic nature and the thematic depth of death and rebirth appeal to many players and DMs alike.

Promotional Artwork and Tie-Ins​

• Major Appearances: Characters like Vecna and Tiamat are often featured in promotional artwork, showcased on covers of modules, and included in various marketing materials.
• Tie-In Products: Vecna appears in video games like Neverwinter and has been referenced in novels like The Scepter of the Underworld. Tiamat has had a significant presence in video games, particularly in adaptations and expansions like Dungeons & Dragons Online.

Fan Popularity​

• Community Engagement: Characters like Vecna and Tiamat are often discussed in forums, fan art, and homebrew content, showcasing their lasting impact and appeal. The complex nature of deities like Erathis and the Raven Queen also lends them popularity among storytelling-focused players.

These characters not only represent the Nentir Vale setting but have also transcended it, becoming integral parts of the wider D&D universe, often appearing in various formats and engaging fans through diverse narratives and gameplay possibilities.

EDIT: I'll grant, if you were going to pick one enduring character to represent 4e or Nentir Vale, the Raven Queen seems like a pretty solid choice.

 

[R_J_K75]

Who is the Juggler?

One of the crime bosses of the under city on the Rock of Bral. Kind of reminiscent of the Joker from Batman. It's been a long time since I read that book and not sure if I still have it, but I'll look. IIRC the NPCs in that supplement didnt get a whole lot of detail but he stuck out as one of the better ones.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Just out of morbid curiosity, I threw ChatGPT at the question for Nentir Vale:



EDIT: I'll grant, if you were going to pick one enduring character to represent 4e or Nentir Vale, the Raven Queen seems like a pretty solid choice.

Don't forget "Red Hand of Doom" is set in the Nentir Vale world - making it the very first supplement for that setting.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

I dunno. I'd say Dalamar is still pretty obscure. He's not in the Chronicles trilogy, for one thing.

That being said, he is in the 5e DragonLance adventure, so maybe that makes him a bit more iconic for the 5e era?

Edit: Nevermind, mixed up Chronicles and Legends.

 

[Hellcow]

As a side note... I'm in an actual play series called Legacy of Worlds. The idea was to get a bunch of world creators together playing the character they're known for. So Ed Greenwood plays Elminster, Luke Gygax plays Melf. When it got to me, it was a Hmm, because we made a very intentional choice NOT to include powerful benevolent NPCs like Elminster in the setting. As others have said, the two most powerful benevolent spellcasters are the great druid Oalian and Jaela Daran, the Keeper of the Flame -- but Oalian's a tree and Jaela's a child who loses most of her power when she leaves Flamekeep. The protagonists in my novels—the Dark Lantern Thorn; Lei, Daine, Pierce, Jode—are both non-canonical and also not especially powerful -- in the 7-9th level range rather than being on par with Elminster.

In the end, I decided to play the artificer Merrix d'Cannith. The thing is that canonically he's a 9th level artificer, so we had to bump him up significantly in power to be able to pal around with Melf and El. So I'm not CANON Merrix; I'm from an Eberron in which Merrix is a player character. The other character I considered playing was the Lord of Blades, since he's essentially Magneto or Doctor Doom — he's typically a villain, but I could have come up with a story as to why he'd work with some heroes for a while. Another option would have been King Boranel of Breland, who has a running gag about how tough he is.

But yeah, Eberron doesn't really have DMPCs like Elminster. Vi exists in art, but as others have said, I've never seen a stat block and part of her whole thing is that she hangs out on Sigil; she's FROM Eberron, but she's not a hero of Eberron.

I did create a party of iconic adventurers that appear throughout the art in my DM's Guild books—the artificer Dela d'Cannith, Kalashtar monk Gentle, warforged fighter Rev, dwarf warlock Rusty, goblin rogue Ban -- but even in those books, the only place they appear is the art. What we've always said about Eberron is that it's a world that NEEDS heroes.

 

[Stormonu]

I suppose for Spelljammer you could add:

Emperor Vulkaran the Dark (from Under the Dark Fist, master of twelve Crystal Spheres)
Blackjammer (from 2e's Book of Artifacts, his story is covered under his artifact Blackjammer's Cutlass)
Morkitar (Scro Warpriest and commander of Gamaro Base in Heart of the Enemy)

From modern Spelljammer

Flapjack (a flumph, from Lights of Xaryxis - I'd say a "fan favorite" who got his own mini at release)
Boo (a miniature Giant Space Hamster, companion of the Ranger Minsc)