Well, often the brave and skilled warriors are popular. For instance, a character like Aron who is known for his swordsmanship and fearless nature in battle.
The cunning leaders can also be very popular. There might be a character named Elise who is a master at political manipulation and strategy in the Dark Age of War fanfic. She is able to outwit her opponents and expand her territory through her wits.
Some of the magic - users can be quite popular too. A wizard character, perhaps called Zander, who has the ability to control powerful spells and uses his magic to protect the innocent or fight against the dark forces in the Dark Age of War fanfic.