History Main / TheStrategist

Things are in dire straits for the [[LaResistance Rebellion]]. Their campaign against the [[TheEmpire Evil Empire]] is foundering, their numbers are dwindling, morale is eroding away. Even the BoisterousBruiser sits around headquarters, looking dejected, unable to crack a joke or even smile. If things don't take a drastic turn for the better soon, our heroes are surely doomed.

Suddenly, one member of the heroes' band lifts his head, his eyes flashing with inspiration. "Hey! Remember that really brilliant and famous adviser that King So-and-So had working in his palace before the BigBad invaded the country and took over the throne? Maybe -''he''- [[FightingForSurvival could help us!"]]

Of course, the rest of the heroes might wonder (and rightly so) why such a brilliant adviser was unable to keep King So-and-So from losing his throne and being consequently beaten by the BigBad. Most often this will be explained by King So-and-So [[IgnoredExpert refusing to listen]] to the adviser's advice before the takeover; perhaps the king even went so far as to banish or imprison the adviser for his or her impudence. Whatever the case, you can expect the next arc of the series (or the next part of the video game) to center around a road trip to find and/or rescue the famously brilliant advisor and convince them to work on the side of the heroes.

Sometimes, the adviser, upon being found by the heroes, will join up with them right away (he or she may have even been expecting the heroes to seek them out, and as such, may have already worked out a number of strategies for dealing with the BigBad). Sometimes the adviser won't join up right away, and will instead subject the heroes to some sort of test, to see if their political movement is worthy of his/her assistance. Whatever the case, as soon as the adviser joins the heroes, she becomes The Strategist, a character whose primary job is to think up intricate and ingenious ways to defeat the enemy. The Strategist is basically TheSmartGuy on Turbodrive, although he or she will--as a rule--be less likely to physically partake in any of the plans they think up. The heroes may come to rely on The Strategist for their ultimate success, and as such, will have to protect and keep The Strategist as far away from the front lines as possible. The loss of The Strategist might come across as an unmitigated disaster should the heroes come to rely on his or her advice too much. Also, there's no guarantee that The Strategist won't turn out to be also TheChessmaster, manipulating both the heroes and the villains towards some mysterious and personal goal. This will not often be the case however, as The Strategist very rarely wants power for him- or herself; the sheer joy of being given a venue where they can stretch their intellectual muscles and try out their plans is often reward enough for their loyalty and service.

** One of his most well-known stunts was BluffingTheAdvanceScout - his forces were in a city that was outnumbered 60 to 1 by Sima Yi' incoming army, so Liang ordered the gates thrown open, sitting on top and playing a lute. Because [[ItOnlyWorksOnce Liang had never bluffed during his military career]], the opposing general said ScrewThisImOuttaHere, smelling a (non-existent) ambush.

** One of his most well-known stunts was BluffingTheAdvanceScout - his forces were in a city that was outnumbered 60 to 1 by Zhao Yun's incoming army, so Liang ordered the gates thrown open, sitting on top and playing a lute. Because [[ItOnlyWorksOnce Liang had never bluffed during his military career]], the opposing general said ScrewThisImOuttaHere, smelling a (non-existent) ambush.

* [[MassEffect Commander Shepard]] is considered this by reputation; depending on your background, you could have single-handedly lead an impromptu defense against an army of SpacePirates, single-handedly survived a [[SandWorm Thresher Maw]] on foot, or have lead an army of soldiers into a successful suicide ZergRush victory. In-game, he is praised by his squad mates and superiors for being an excellent leader, though that comes down to the player's skill, especially in the [[MassEffect2 second game]] when you take on the suicide mission. In the ''Omega'' [=DLC=] for MassEffect3, notorious and egotistical criminal warlord Aria T'loak justifies [[YouAreInCommandNow putting herself under Shepard's command]] by saying his or her tactical skill is the reason she brought them along.

*** That is because Lee and Jackson had NervesOfSteel, and were able to press forward with their strategy effectively. While Hooker had(to make an unfairly hyperbolic but revealing comparison) nerves of pasta.

* It's not a coincidence that Napoleon have an age named after him, the man fought and won most of his wars against all of Europe.

* Sokka on ''WesternAnimation/AvatartheLastAirbender'' definitely graduates into this by the start of Book 3, where he comes up with the plan to invade the Fire Nation.

* The title character in ''LawrenceOfArabia'' follows the sample plot given above very closely, except that he actively seeks out the dejected Arab rebels rather than the other way around.
* Mickey Marcus in ''CastAGiantShadow'' follows the sample plot given almost exactly.
* Elaine, the policewoman, in ''AngelsRevenge'', who irons out the details of the raid on the compound as soon as she arrives.

* The original ''ValkyriaChronicles'' has Welkin Gunther. Who knew a guy who rathers to spend hours watching and drawing animals and plants than take into arms could make use of his vast knowledge of nature to transform a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in a BadassArmy?

* Zack Taylor from ''MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' is typically the team's tactician, and splits secondary SmartGuy duties with Trini Kwan.
** T.J. Johnson from PowerRangersTurbo and PowerRangersInSpace is TheSmartGuy and considered to be one of the best strategists in PR history and on more than one occasion has saved his team with a well thought out plan.

* This is probably ''the'' single most fearsome superpower of ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'', who is able to instantaneously formulate ''ironclad'' battle formations from split-second analysis of the situation compared with the skills of his warriors. Powerful as ''Film/TheAvengers'' may individually be, they would not have been able to stop The Chitauri from tearing ''every'' innocent in Manhattan to pieces were it not for the discipline and teamwork that TheGoodCaptain inspired in them.

* {{Batman}} often serves this role in the JusticeLeagueOfAmerica, being the only one without superpowers and usually the only one with common sense.
** Most of the Bat Family are ActionHero [[TheStrategist Strategists]], though some do have a tendency to skip the strategy part.

* Kidou Yuuto from ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'' is described as a genius playmaker and is often responsible for figuring out how to break through opposing teams' supposedly unbeatable strategies.
** To lesser extent, Fudou Akio and Fidio Aldena.

* The ''{{Suikoden}}'' series of games has at least one strategist per game, whose help the KidHero must seek out. The Silverbergs are a notable family of strategists who have helped shape the history of the games. Lucretia Merces, the advisor for ''SuikodenV'', dresses in robes and often carries a feather fan (perhaps as a ShoutOut to her spiritual predecessor, Zhuge Liang).

* Tenpou in ''{{Saiyuki}} Gaiden''.

* Kidou Yuuto from Inazuma Eleven. He's the soccer team's strategist and nearly every time opponent has an impossible to break strategy Kidou figures it out in couple minutes.
** To lesser extent Fudou Akio and Fidio Aldena.

* The original ''ValkyriaChronicles'' has Welkin Gunther. Who knew a guy who rathers to spend hours watching and drawing animals and plants than take into arms could make use of his vast knowledge of nature to transform a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in the worst nightmare of TheEmpire?

* Kenny is this in the ''SouthPark'' episode "Best Friends Forever".

* In KoihimeMusou the core strategists of the three kingdoms, Koumei (Shoku), Shuuyu (Go) and Jun'iku (Gi), are key to their nation's success. This is far more apparent in the games than in the light-hearted anime adaptation.

* Kenny is this in the South Park episode "Best Friends Forever".

* In KoihimeMusou the core strategists of the three kingdoms, Koumei (Shoku), Shuuyu (Go) and Jun'iku (Gi), are key to their nation's success. This is far more apparent in the games than in the light-hearted anime adaptation.