Why are Mind Flayers considered "cool villains"?

[Goblyn]

What is ... and what is not.

Mind flayers do not do some die range of damage or partial, negatable effect. They KILL YOU. By eating your brain. You don't even have to play the game to understand why they are fearsome.

Drow are not and never have been cool. Why? Because they are elves. Anything that is described as 'fey' in any way can never be cool.

Aboleths, unfortunately, are not cool either. Yes, they are psionic, extremely intelligent and all that, but they are aquatic. They are like the 3"6'(that's 105 cm) 40-year-old who can't ride the roller coaster. Nothing aquatic can be cool. Nobody short can ride the roller coaster.
Aboleths are pretty close, though.

Kobolds, though: hell yeah. Virtually every sentient race looks down on them and they keep on setting their traps to be sprung on the unwary.

Oh, and mmadsen: Ouch!

 

[shilsen]

Hobgoblins.

No penalty to Intelligence or Wisdom. Lawful alignment. Tight, organized society with many skilled professionals. Advance by character class.

Why does noone use them beyond the low level cannon-fodder stage?

I think you'll find a fair number of people on ENWorld use hobgoblins as a disciplined, militaristic culture who make deadly enemies at any level. I know I do.

 

[Qlippoth]

Mind Flayers are cool because they are mauve.

You know that thing you're afraid of? The thing that nobody know about? The thing that makes you cry in your bed at one in the morning? The thing you did? That thing that was done to you? That thing that you can never, ever forget?

It's mauve.

Oh no! Not mauve!

 

[Aeolius]

Nothing aquatic can be cool.

Them's fightin' words!

How about a sea hag demi-lich witch, then (in an aquatic campaign, of course)?

Imagine a bejeweled spinal column swimming towards you.

 

[Aesmael]

I like mindflayers, for pretty much all the reasons mentioned above. Them and Beholders are two of the reasons I like D&D. Plus, we are a new group. My players (and I, with the exception of the first few of the cloakmaster cycle I received as a gift) do not read D&D fiction, they have never heard of Illithids, Beholders, Aboleths or Gith. They do not know that sometimes the stuff that comes out of a dragons mouth is electricity, or acid. They have not heard of drow either, and wouldn't have a clue about the name 'Drizz't'.

But back to the topic at hand, aboleths, illithids and beholders are all cool for being intelligent, evil, and having very neat powers. Also for being the kind of enemies who, if I play them well, you do not even realise are your enemies until your brain is being sucked out of your skull. Or your best mate is now a pile of dust. Or they are not your enemy anymore, they are your 'boss'.

I do use hobgoblins as shilsen described, too. Seems I have a thing for the lawful side of evil (Love devils, feel they get short-changed in the respect department). But then, I don't use the old orc horde as being welded together by the charismatic warlord, more like a whole swarm of individuals who want to kill you and take your stuff. Because no sane orc would actually produce anything (visibly weaker = killed, stuff taken) and food has to come from somewhere.

Somehow that seems a bit less scary than something more insidious, something more purposeful. A bit less cool.

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Hobgoblins.

No penalty to Intelligence or Wisdom. Lawful alignment. Tight, organized society with many skilled professionals. Advance by character class.

Why does noone use them beyond the low level cannon-fodder stage?

Heh heh...

I do. I got's me a huge empire that has essentially snuck up on the PC's Island...

Hobby's are fun...

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I'd say it's because it's they're a cool Underdark race with lots of nasty abilities — and also because DMs haven't been plagued by countless players wanting to play a good-aligned illithid ranger that dual-wields scimitars.

Who sez?

Okay, so he's not eating brains... (and barely has one himself...)
And he's not good aligned... (Chaotic neutral... with a 5 wisdom...)
And, heck, he's not even a ranger!

Do I still win the cigar?

The Auld Gump

 

[Goblyn]

Them's fightin' words!

How about a sea hag demi-lich witch, then (in an aquatic campaign, of course)?

Imagine a bejeweled spinal column swimming towards you.

Such a thing would have even more of an impact swimming through earth and air alike as if in water. IMO, of course.