I'd say story first, then action. Characters are part of story. I try and avoid numbers.
My favorite D&D character would be difficult. Honestly, I like DMing much more than playing. Mostly as I like doing lots of different things and creating the world. Exploring someone else's isn't as much fun as creating one in the first place. And, there is nothing like players to challenge you to come up with stuff!
I'd say I like my old D&D's group characters the best. Leaf, Vanden, Hyssop, Guilden and such. I couldn't pick one out of them. But, that group in variation went on for years.