KEY TRAITS RATING SYSTEM________________________
A visual map of how the 5 categories from What I Look For In A Focus break down for each character. Since how much I like a character has more to do with the overall chemistry between these qualities than direct numbers, these graphs are very unreliable predictors of rank, but fun to look at nonetheless. Crowns correspond to scoring maximum on attributes:
: Looks, : Power, : Melee, : Attitude (Single-minded), : Attitude (Complex), : Blood (Invulnerable), : Blood (Vulnerable)

It is true that Drizzt sometimes comes off as a goody-two-shoes. He is not the most complicated of characters and had he been a human, a halfling, a dwarf, or even a surface elf I would not have given him a second look... Okay, I take that back. If it's an elf, dual wields, and bleeds I always give it a second look. But anyway, what elevates Drizzt so far above the rest is that he rebels against the brainwashing of his heritage. He passed through the horrors of drow society, and though he came away from it with deep scars upon his heart, it fortified his resolve and allowed him to define who he is and what he stands for. Between being hunted by his own people and mercilessly persecuted by surface dwellers, he is a survivor. He does not blame the world for its prejudices, and instead seeks to prove himself through his actions hoping that someday his own reputation would precede that of his race. The selflessness, purity, intensity, and sincerity of his moral strength in the face of adversity is a beautiful thing to behold. Drizzt also gets major brownie points for having befriended a magical black panther, which is of huge importance to me.

Related Links: Drizzt Do'Urden's Corner, Drizzt Do'Urden, A Drizzit, Innocence, Drizzt vs Zaknafein, Best of the Best All-Stars List
Song I Associate With Him: "Less than a Pearl" by Enya

The third son of the ancient Matron Baenre, once sacrificed to the spider goddess Lolth by his mother and siblings, now leads a powerful mercenary band called the Bregan D'aerthe made entirely of males (make of that what you will). Jarlaxle himself wears a wide brimmed hat with a large feather atop his bald head, a cloak of many dazzling colors, a wide selection of jewelry, and does everything with a playful sense of style. His favorite hobby is collecting magical trinkets so he always has a plethora of tricks up his sleeve to befuddle the shrewdest enemy. Clever, charming, manipulative, and well-versed in the ways of the drow, Jarlaxle is a strategic genius in both politics and battle who holds himself to an admirable standard of honor even while dancing around plots to bring him down. Though typically not interested in anyone unless they are useful to him, Jarlaxle has been friends with Zaknafein Do'Urden and has taken a particular liking to Artemis Entreri.

Related Links: Jarlaxle Baenre, Drizzt Do'Urden's Corner, Favorite Pairings List

I love Dinin, the way he gets dominated and beaten into submission by every female in a ten foot radius is just so adorable! The scheming, backstabbing coward that he is, Dinin murdered his own older brother to become Elderboy of House Do'Urden. He is a smart one and knows his limits - when to strike and when to kiss ass. He will play all sides and choose the victor. Dinin is first and foremost a survivor, well aware of his vulnerable mortality and always willing to sacrifice his dignity to stay alive. He is the only one in his family to realize that hunting after Drizzt Do'Urden after it has cost them lives and sanity is probably not a good idea. Jarlaxle recognized Dinin's usefulness when he spared him during the fall of House Do'Urden and made him a Lieutenant in his harem band of mercenaries. Unfortunately, Dinin grew a bit of a backbone by then and challenged the opinion of his crazed sister Vierna who promptly turned him into a drider.

Related Links: Dinin Do'Urden, Drizzt Do'Urden's Corner

Armed with insolent wit and a wicked sense of humor, Zaknafein bore no love for his people or their spider goddess Lolth. He had always felt alone and trapped in a hostile world he lacked the courage to escape. Zak found an outlet for his frustration by becoming the peerless Weaponmaster of House Do'Urden and taking out his rage by slaughtering drow in combat. Matron Malice also kept him around because his incredible dexterity was not limited to the battlefield. *hint hint* *nudge nudge* Indeed, he fathered Drizzt and made his son's martial skills flower under his tutelage. He saw in Drizzt a like-minded companion and sought to keep him innocent of their race's ways. Twenty years and an ill-fated misunderstanding later, Zaknafein willingly laid down his life so that his son would be spared Lolth's wrath and be free to do what his father could only dream of.

Related Links: Drizzt vs Zaknafein, Drizzt Do'Urden's Corner

Though he claimed to be an out of work actor from the town of Guildford, he was actually an alien from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse and "Ford Prefect" was not his real name. Ford was an editor stationed on Earth (for far too long) to expand the planet's entry in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Indeed, whereas it was originally described as "Harmless," Ford had revised it to say "Mostly harmless." Not that it really mattered since the Earth was soon destroyed by a Vogon construction fleet to make way for an interstellar bypass. Ford is intelligent, resourceful, selfish, but well-meaning most of the time. He has little understanding of human emotion, little patience for human stupidity, and would trust his towel over his best friend.

Related Links: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Frodo wasn't your typical hobbit. He daydreamt about adventure, was learned in foreign languages/cultures, and was even described to have elven features. He idolized his eccentric uncle, but got more than he bargained for when he inherited Bilbo's magic ring of invisibility. Err, did I say invisibility? I meant the "One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." But wait! There's a catch! The ring also corrupts and tortures the one who bears it, always trying to get back to its true master. So now Frodo had every servant of the Enemy looking for him on foot, hoof, and wing while he trekked across Middle-earth into the heart of said Enemy's stronghold to destroy the damn thing. Against all odds (and thanks to the help of his gardener, Sam), Frodo got the job done (well, technically Gollum does, but never mind), losing only a finger... and what's left of his sanity. And that's what I love about Frodo: the deep, lingering pain that clings to your heart even after its cause is long gone.

Related Links: 2 Hobbits 1 Ring, Favorite Pairings List

There's just something incredibly alluring about a little hairy-footed man who's so docile and innocent for most of the story and then snaps and goes berserk on a gigantic spider. That's Sam for you. Loyal, trusty Sam. Like most hobbits, Sam is content with the simple things in life: he loves animals, plants, and cooking. For most of the story, he defines himself through his servile relationship to Frodo. But somewhere along the way there's a moment so subtle that Sam himself doesn't realize it. It is the moment when he stops being a servant and becomes a friend, and then shifts to having the upper hand in the relationship. When Frodo becomes too weak to function, Sam becomes the protector, the provider, and the one to make sure their mission doesn't fail. And thus from a simple gardener emerges a valiant hero, but one who never thinks to abuse the power he has gained.

Related Links: 2 Hobbits 1 Ring, Favorite Pairings List