The iconic characters in Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

are a series of characters developed for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

 to be used as recurring character

Recurring character

A recurring character is a fictional character, usually in a prime time TV series, who appears from time to time during the series' run. Recurring characters often play major roles in an episode, sometimes being the main focus...

s in illustrations and text explanations to illustrate archetypal D&D race and class combinations. In the case of a few classes, there is more than one iconic character, allowing for more varied iconic parties. They were created by and served as player characters for the developers during the creation and testing of the Third Editions rules.

Iconic characters are primarily of the 11 core classes; while iconic characters exist for other standard classes, they are not as well known. The iconic characters appear in a variety of Dungeons & Dragons books, including the Player's Handbook

Player's Handbook

The Player's Handbook is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . It does not contain the complete set of rules, but only those for use by players of the game...

, Dungeon Master's Guide

Dungeon Master's Guide

The Dungeon Master's Guide is a book of rules for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...

, and Enemies and Allies

Enemies and Allies

Enemies and Allies is an accessory for the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:Enemies and Allies contains statistics and descriptions for numerous non-player characters of various types for 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons.-Publication history:Enemies and Allies...

.

The iconic characters for the core classes are also the focus of a series of Dungeon & Dragons tie-in novels by T. H. Lain

T. H. Lain

T. H. Lain was a collective pseudonym used by nine separate authors writing under Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons novels imprint....

, a collective pseudonym adopted by a number of Wizards of the Coast staff. Three of the characters, Lidda, Krusk, and Jozan, were used as an audio commentary

Audio commentary

On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...

 on the DVD release of Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God

Dungeons & Dragons 2: Wrath of the Dragon God

Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Gerry Lively. It is a made-for-TV sequel of sorts to the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, which in turn was based on the popular role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons . The only returning actor is Bruce Payne reprising his...

.

By character class (including gender)

(Most commonly used character in bold)

• Barbarian
  Barbarian (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The barbarian is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Creative origins:The barbarian is based on Robert E...
  
  : Krusk (half-orc
  Half-orc
  The half-orc is a creature born to mixed orc and human parentage in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The half-orc is a playable race for D&D player characters. Half-orcs are typically born in wild frontiers where human and orc tribes come into contact. Half-orcs are between six and seven...
  
   male)
• Bard
  Bard (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The bard is a standard playable character class in many editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The bard class is versatile, capable of combat and of magic . Bards use their artistic talents to induce magical effects...
  
  : Gimble (gnome
  Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)
  In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...
  
   male), Devis (half-elf
  Half-elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
  -Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition :The half-elf appeared as a player character race in the original Player's Handbook . The half-elf also appeared in the original Monster Manual...
  
   male)
• Cleric
  Cleric (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The cleric is one of the standard playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the game, clerics are versatile figures, both capable in combat and skilled in the use of divine magic. Clerics are powerful healers due to the large number of healing and curative...
  
  : Jozan (human
  Human (Dungeons & Dragons)
  Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
  
   male cleric of Pelor
  Pelor
  In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Pelor is the god of the Sun, Light, Strength, and Healing. Pelor is also a prominent member of the third edition of the game's default pantheon, and is a popular choice among player character clerics because he...
  
  ), Eberk (dwarf
  Dwarf (Dungeons & Dragons)
  In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, dwarves are a humanoid race, one of the primary races available for play as player characters...
  
   male cleric of Moradin
  Moradin
  Moradin is the chief deity in the dwarven pantheon in the Dungeons & Dragons game and is a member of the default D&D pantheon. Moradin's domains are Creation, Earth, Good, Law, and Protection. His titles include Soul Forger, Dwarffather, the All-Father, and the Creator...
  
  )
• Druid
  Druid (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The druid is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Druids wield nature-themed magic. Prior to 4th edition, they gain divine magic from being at one with nature, or from one of several patron gods of the wild, while in 4th edition, they gain primal magic...
  
  : Vadania (half-elf female)
• Fighter
  Fighter (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The fighter is one of the standard playable character classes in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A fighter is a versatile, weapons-oriented warrior who fights using skill, strategy and tactics....
  
  : Tordek (Dwarf male), Regdar (Human male)
• Monk
  Monk (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The monk is a playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A D&D monk is a fantasy martial artist, specializing in unarmed combat.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
  
  : Ember (human female)
• Paladin
  Paladin (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The paladin is one of the standard playable character classes in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The paladin is a holy knight, crusading in the name of good and order, and is a divine spellcaster...
  
  : Alhandra (human female)
• Ranger
  Ranger (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The ranger is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are protectors of nature, skilled woodsmen, and often live reclusive lives as hermits....
  
  : Soveliss (elf
  Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)
  In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, elves are a fictional humanoid race that is one of the primary races available for play as player characters. Elves are renowned for their grace and mastery of magic and weapons such as the sword and bow...
  
   male)
• Rogue
  Rogue (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The rogue or thief is one of the standard playable character class in most editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A rogue is a versatile character, capable of sneaky combat and nimble tricks...
  
  : Lidda (halfling
  Halfling
  Halfling is another name for J. R. R. Tolkien's Hobbit which can be a fictional race sometimes found in fantasy novels and games. In many settings, they are similar to humans except about half the size. Dungeons & Dragons began using the name halfling as an alternative to hobbit for legal reasons...
  
   female), Kerwyn (human male)
• Sorcerer
  Sorcerer (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The sorcerer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A sorcerer is weak in melee combat, but a master of arcane magic, the most generally powerful form of D&D magic. Sorcerers' magical ability is innate rather than studied...
  
  : Hennet (human male)
• Wizard
  Wizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
  The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
  
  : Mialee (elf female), Naull (human female), Nebin (gnome male illusionist), Aramil (elf male)

By name and date (excluding gender)

• Regdar, Human Fighter (PHBII image) (two D&D miniatures)
• Tordek, Dwarf Fighter (PHB image) (PHBII image) (two D&D miniatures)
• Alhandra, Human Paladin (PHB image) (PHBII image)
• Krusk, Half-Orc Barbarian (PHB image) (PHBII image) (D&D miniature)
• Soveliss, Elf Ranger (PHB image) (PHBII image)
• Jozan, Human Cleric of Pelor (PHB image) (PHBII image) (D&D miniature)
• Eberk, Dwarf Cleric (D&D miniature)
• Lidda, Halfling Rogue (PHB image) (PHBII image) (two D&D miniatures)
• Mialee, Elf Wizard (PHB image) (PHBII image) (D&D miniature)
• Hennet, Human Sorcerer (PHB image) (PHBII image)
• Aramil, Elf Sorcerer (D&D miniature)
• Gimble, Gnome Bard (PHB image) (PHBII image)
• Devis, Half-Elf Bard (PHB image) (D&D miniature)
• Nebin, Gnome Illusionist (PHB image) (D&D miniature)
• Ember, Human Monk (PHB image) (PHBII image) (D&D miniature)
• Vadania, Half-Elf Druid (PHB image) (PHBII image) (D&D miniature)
• Kerwyn, Human Rogue (D&D miniature)
• Naull, Human Wizard
• Athain, Half-Elf Hexblade (PHBII image)
• Korrin, Human Marshal (PHBII image)
• Deruwyn, Scout (PHBII image)
• Meara, Human Swashbuckler (PHBII image)
• Morthos, Human Warlock (PHBII image)
• Arthon, Human Warmage (PHBII image)
• Sorra, Human Favored Soul (PHBII image)
• Ialdabode, Human Psion (Telepath) (Expanded Psionics Handbook image) (Archfiends set miniature)
• Mitra, Human Psion (Shaper) (Expanded Psionics Handbook image)
• Sandharrow, Half-Giant Psychic Warrior (Expanded Psionics Handbook image)
• Eulad, Maenad Wilder (Expanded Psionics Handbook image)
• Xerxes, Xeph Soulknife (Expanded Psionics Handbook image)
• Ragnara, Human Psychic Warrior (D&D miniature)
• Kazak, Dwarf Psion (Kineticist)

External links

• D&D Wiki has all the iconic character classes, as well as many homebrew choices.