Music for the First Half of the ArticleThe Smart Guy is the guy in a Group who focus is on intellectual pursuits. This is the team member who will always be prepared, sometimes Crazy Prepared. They will be at the computer doing typing at high speeds. Expect some fancy talk and Techno Babble from this character. Because their role is about ideas, plans, and being Mission Control, they often leave the action stuff to The Hero, The Number 2 and The Big Guy.
Physically they are usually either short or slender and sometimes wear glasses. The Smart Guy is sometimes written as mousey and withdrawn. If not antisocial, at least non-social, sliding into TV Genius. Can be expected to play a mean game of chess.
Sometimes the Smart Guy is more street savvy then they appear. If this is the case it usually makes The Smart Guy physically as well as mentally capable. This can be done by making the Smart Guy and The Big Guy one and the same, effectively defying the two stereotypes to the utmost extreme. Then there is the path of the combat oriented Bookworm. They remain firmly planted as the Smart Guy, but are just as ready to fight as everyone else. The results are often impressive, and usually have the advantage of surprise. Who expects the little guy or skinny guy who might wear glasses to be so dangerous?
Powers and skills common to the smart guy include:
•In modern or sci-fi settings, The Smart Guy often has great skill with technology and engineering, in order to build and repair devices for the band. The Gadgeteer Genius, Mad Scientist, and The Professor will often fill this role. If they're the protagonist, they'll be a Science Hero. In such cases, The Smart Guy will rarely have good tactical skills, and may lack in common sense as well. Quite often they're an alien, cyborg or robot. If all of the characters are using guns, the Smart Guy may be the sniper.
•In settings where firearms are rare, he might be one of those few who uses one, considering a lack of combat skill.
•In fantasy settings, he'll usually be skilled at magic, particularly of the offensive variety, in which case he serves as the team's "nuker". His Weapon of Choice tends to be a Magic Wand, a Simple Staff, or both in one package. Alternatively, he may prefer a easily manageable dagger. Or, if magic is the de facto power of the age, the Smart Guy will probably use a sword or a gun.
•In a Superhero setting, or any one with superpowers that don't quite fall under magic, The Smart Guy is often a combat oriented but Normal man with Super Intelligence, or has relatively weak powers to offset their brilliance (and increasingly often will find ways to utilize apparently useless powers to great effect). He could also achieve Psychic Powers after reaching Brain Critical Mass. Or conversely, they'll be the ones in the Powered Armor (in this case, if the armor lends enough muscle, they might be a Genius Bruiser or Bookworm who doubles as The Big Guy).
•Some incarnations have The Smart Guy be less of a genius, and more of a wisecracking or a street-smart Trickster who has traded in strength for intelligence, and uses his cunning to outwit his foes. This type may well be The Number 2 if roles are overlapping or the Evil Guy.
Music for the Second Half of the ArticlesHere are Some examples:
Sun Feb 17, 2013 1:12 pm
