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Author: crazysamaritan

Jan 28th 2014 at 2:07:47 PM

Thanks.  I'm up to Episode 20, now.  After finishing the series, I should be able to give some concrete advice on the description of the trope.  For now, I can better explain why I was starting to think of those two tropes (And now that I can see this as a fully distinct trope of it's own, I can admit I thought you were actually talking about TheAce), as well as submit an example. 
* You've stated half of TheAce and half of MilesGloriosus: TheAce isn't ''just'' the guy better than the Protagonist, he's also ''famed'' for his awesomeness, and so is the Miles.  They're famous Heroes in their own right, an important part of the universe the protagonists reside in, and meeting those characters is a part of the protagonist's narrative.  But ''not'' their actual heroics.  Their heroics take place mostly off-screen. 
* During ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'', Neville Longbottom accomplishes offscreen heroics.  The narrative itself follows the Protagonist trio, but Hogwarts still has school this year, and now Harry isn't around leading the students.  Neville steps up to the plate, and we hear about some of what they've done when the trio enters Hogwarts to find the Ravenclaw Horcrux.