History Main / UtilityPartyMember

* The Rogue [[CharacterClassSystem class]] in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and systems derived from it has traditionally been the party's skill monkey, thanks to receiving, depending on the edition, the most skill points per level or the most non-combat skill boosts.
** In edition 3.5, the [[JackOfAllTrades Factotum]] class is the king of this trope, receiving access to every skill in the game and even more skill points than the rogue, and can also emulate the abilities of most other classes to a limited extent. In particular a factotum's ability to cast wizard spells is too limited to become a major part of his fighting style, but he can access almost any wizard spell in the game if given enough time, making him perfectly suited to casting UtilityMagic between encounters.

* Some ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' players call these "[[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/HM_slave HM slaves]]." It's because with few exceptions (notably Strength and Surf, and sometimes [[StatusBuffDispel Defog]] in the [=PvP=] scene) the HM "field moves" these Pokemon specialize in are only useful as methods of navigating the overworld, with minimal utility in battle. You can designate one party member to handle this stuff so the other five can maintain skills that are useful in battle.

* Some ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' players call these "[[http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/HM_slave HM slaves]]." It's because with few exceptions (notably Strength and Surf) the HM "field moves" these Pokemon specialize in are only useful as methods of navigating the overworld, with minimal utility in battle. You can designate one party member to handle this stuff so the other five can maintain skills that are useful in battle.

A gender-neutral subtrope of NonActionGuy and, in many video games, of NonPlayerCompanion. The most common subtype found in DungeonCrawling games is a MasterOfUnlocking; in rarer cases, their primary role may be a HumanPackMule. May overlap with the QuirkyBard, TheSmartGuy, or TheFace (when they focus on diplomacy and/or haggling). Compare TheMedic, whose main function is to heal, not to fight (though a CombatMedic tries to strike a balance).

PlayerParty-based RolePlayingGames, of both {{tabletop|RPG}} and computer varieties, often feature combat as [[RPGsEqualCombat a core gameplay element]], where each party member has a specific role, such as the DamagerHealerTank trifecta. However, in games that also feature a [[SkillScoresAndPerks non-combat skill system]], an additional archetype emerges that isn't defined by its combat specialization, but by its mastery of a variety of skills that the party may need ''outside'' of combat. This trope is about such party members (also known as "skill monkeys" among ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' players).

* Although ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' doesn't have any non-combat gameplay skills, [[TheProfessor Professor Mordin Solus]] is the resident skill monkey aboard the ''Normandy''. Despite his special forces training, his age makes him a lousy combatant compared to other squadmates, and he has little to contribute during the combat-heavy SuicideMission endgame. However, his technical expertise allows you to install the ship upgrades that save many lives during said Suicide Mission, and it is he who develops the Collector swarm countermeasures that allow the party survive the Horizon mission.

In a broader sense, a UtilityPartyMember is any character who occupies an [[PlayerCharacterCalculus active party slot]] and lowers the party's overall battle-readiness, but their usefulness outside of combat makes it a good trade-off.

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'', thieves and dancers/bards tend to be this; their combat skills are lacking, and the main reason to have them is to pick locks and give your other party members extra turns, respectively.

In a broader sense, a UtilityPartyMember is any character who occupies an [[PlayerCharacterCalculus active party slot]] and thus lowers the party's overall battle-readiness, but their usefulness outside of combat makes it a good trade-off.

* The Rogue [[CharacterClassSystem class]] in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and systems derived from it, like ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', has traditionally been the party's skill monkey, thanks to receiving, depending on the edition, the most skill points per level or the most non-combat skill boosts.

** T3 returns in ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords The Sith Lords]]'', alongside Bao-Dur, whose Tech Specialist class alongside his potential +3 Intelligence modifier (he joins the party at level 7) gives him a whopping ''seven'' skill points per level, making him even better than T3! Mira also can fulfill this role due to her Scout class (which gives her many "class skills", making skill development easier) and high Intelligence, although not as well.

** T3 returns in [[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords ''The Sith Lords'']], alongside Bao-Dur, whose Tech Specialist class alongside his potential +3 Intelligence modifier (he joins the party at level 7) gives him a whopping ''seven'' skill points per level, making him even better than T3! Mira also can fulfill this role due to her Scout class (which gives her many "class skills", making skill development easier) and high Intelligence, although not as well.

* In ''WebVideo/TheGamersNaturalOne'', Leo plays the team's Decker--a specialist who hacks computers with his mind (they are playing ''Cyberrun'', mind you, and [[YouWannaGetSued definitely not]] ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}''). His hacking skills (and his sheer audacity) get the team into the villain's base, but during the final boss fight, he spends most of the fight immobilized before falling under the villain's MindControl... and getting promptly ridiculed by the party because he cannot even shoot them without his gun instantly jamming. Also, Ryan discovers a natural talent at playing [[spoiler:TheTeamBenefactor and TheFace types of UPM]], and never actually successfully attacks anyone in the entire game.

A gender-neutral subtrope of NonActionGuy and, in many video games, of NonPlayerCompanion. The most common subtype found in DungeonCrawling games is a MasterOfUnlocking. May overlap with the QuirkyBard, TheSmartGuy, or TheFace (when they focus on diplomacy and/or haggling). Compare TheMedic, whose main function is to heal, not to fight (though a CombatMedic tries to strike a balance).

* In ''VideoGame/ZanZarahTheHiddenPortal'', you must keep a faery of a specific element in your party's first slot for the corresponding Elemental Cards to function, and since you can only swap out faeries in London, you may have to trade off some combat efficiency for the ability to clear environmental obstacles. This is particularly egregious in the case of Air faeries, who bring little combat benefits that cannot be achieved by combining other faeries' strengths, yet they are needed every time you need to leap over some air eddies (unlike the boulders and prickly bushes, which disappear for good once a Stone or Nature faery works its magic on them).

In a broader sense, a UtilityPartyMember is any character who occupies an [[PlayerCharacterCalculus active party slot]], lowering the party's average battle-readiness, but whose usefulness out of combat makes it a good trade-off.

Subtrope of NonActionGuy and, in many video games, of NonPlayerCompanion. The most common subtype found in DungeonCrawling games is a MasterOfUnlocking. May overlap with the QuirkyBard, TheSmartGuy, or TheFace (when they focus on diplomacy and/or haggling). Compare TheMedic, whose main function is to heal, not to fight (though a CombatMedic tries to strike a balance).

In a broader sense, a UtilityPartyMember is any character who occupies an [[PlayerCharacterCalculus active party slot]] but whose usefulness outside of combat makes up for the party being overall less combat-ready.

PlayerParty-based RolePlayingGames, of both {{tabletop|RPG}} and computer varieties, often feature combat as [[RPGsEqualCombat a core gameplay element]], where each party member has a specific role--such as the DamagerHealerTank trifecta. However, in games that also feature a [[SkillScoresAndPerks non-combat skill system]], an additional archetype emerges that isn't defined by its combat specialization, but by its mastery of a variety of skills that the party may need ''outside'' of combat. This trope is about such party members (also known as "skill monkeys" among ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons D&D]]'' players).

Subtrope of NonActionGuy and, in many video games, of NonPlayerCompanion. The most common subtype found in DungeonCrawling games is a MasterOfUnlocking. May overlap with the QuirkyBard, TheSmartGuy, or TheFace (when for they focus on diplomacy and/or haggling). Compare TheMedic, whose main function is to heal, not to fight (though a CombatMedic tries to strike a balance).