Better late than never, eh?
Another vote for Wheel of Time, A Song of Ice and Fire (my wife add’s a vote there too), The Dresden Files, and the Icewind Dale trilogy.
More recommendations:
Malazan Book of the Fallen, Steven Erikson (ten books)
The Dark Elf trilogy, R.A. Salvatore (read before Icewind Dale trilogy)
The Culture Series, Ian M. Banks (connected by setting not characters, but then I’ve only read three so far)
And one that’s recently been recommended to me: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever by Stephen R. Donaldson. I know nothing about it other than a buddy said I’ll be getting the first book for Christmas.