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I have noticed that quite a few systems have characters that focus on three different pillars in the form of physical strength, charisma and booksmarts(Storyteller System, Some PbtA systems,) and I observed this when it came to D&D esque systems where there is a character that does the talking, there is a character that knows all the lore(Usually the wizard) and there is a character that is all about hitting things hard.

I know that the characters that do the talking are usually called the face but is there a term for the characters that specialize in rolling knowledge and characters that specialize in physical force?

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    \$\begingroup\$ You mean like "beat stick" and "skill monkey"? \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago
  • \$\begingroup\$ +1 to beatstick and skill-monkey. @Jadasc, that's basically an answer right there. \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago
  • \$\begingroup\$ I mean, they're hard to source, but I'll give it a shot. \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago

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The terms "brains" and "muscle" are analogous to "face" and are used in similar contexts. The "face" of a group or organization is its visible public representative, the "brains" is the repository of knowledge and chief planner, and the "muscle" is responsible for dynamic and forceful action.

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    \$\begingroup\$ As a point of evidence for this usage, the computer game Esoteric Ebb uses fanciful images of body parts to represent the 6 D&D stats. Strength is muscles, Dexterity is a hand, Constitution is a stomach, Intelligence is a brain, Wisdom is a heart, and Charisma is a face. \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago
  • \$\begingroup\$ The nice thing about these analogues is indeed that they likewise are body parts. I think face, brains and muscle is even used outside of RPG circles, in gangster movies and such. \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago
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Colloquially, the terms skill monkey and beat stick are commonly used in those circumstances.

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    \$\begingroup\$ +1, but I think Skill Monkey (at least in D&D) is a term for the rogue like types that have many skills with good bonuses. The "thinking/knowledge" role that the Wizard fills is different - at least I have never heard anyone refer to a wizard as a skill monkey. \$\endgroup\$ Commented 2 days ago
  • \$\begingroup\$ Agreed... "skill monkey" isn't the intellectual... it implies a jack-of-all-trades character such as a rogue or bard, the one who covers everything that isn't physical, social or mental. \$\endgroup\$ Commented yesterday

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