History Main / DesignatedPointMan

* ''Film/{{Aliens}}'': When the Marines first land and prepare to enter the colony complex, Sergeant Apone orders {{Vasquez|AlwaysDies}} to take point. She carries a machine gun that is more powerful and does more damage than the weapons the other Marines carry. Which is normally [[HollywoodTactics a poor tactic]], as she can't use her weapon for its intended role of fire support. In this case however their enemy is unarmed and fond of attacking ''en masse'' in a restricted area, so the tactic does make sense on this occasion.

* In ''ComicBook/GIJoeARealAmericanHeroMarvel'', Spearhead is the Joe's designated point man.

-->'''Jim: (pleading)''' But why...? Why can't I go with you? I wanna help!\\
'''Gene: (calmly)''' C'mon, Jim, we've made it this far with our teamwork. I've always been the point man... and you're-\\
'''Jim: (in acquiescence)''' ...the backup.
* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': SergeantRock Shirakabe is a {{Private Military Contractor|s}} and OldSoldier who likes to take point (for PercussiveTherapy in one instance). He's equipped with PoweredArmor special tailored to melee combat, and his SignatureMove is to send his enemies PunchedAcrossTheRoom via kick, clogging up hallways with monster corpses.

* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} is often designated ([[LeeroyJenkins or not]]) as vanguard in teams he is in. His HotBlooded {{Berserker}} personality combined with his HealingFactor and excellent close quarter combat abilities means he's perfect not only as a [[WeNeedADistraction decoy]], but also for leading attacks.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: When Bobby Strong is one of the Holliday Girls on mission she pretty much always goes in first, ordered or [[LeeroyJenkins of her own volition]]. Given she's got superhuman strength and her reaction to being led to an execution is to dare those giving the orders to kill her themselves this works out fairly well, since she is exceptionally hard to actually injure.

* In ''{{Film/Cube}}'', the thief character takes the role early on, due to his familiarity with automated alarm systems. However, this only means [[WrongGenreSavvy he gets overconfident]] and dies, after which he's replaced by the cop character as the most physically fit and thus likeliest to survive if a trap is sprung. He does prove he's the most capable in this context, but repeated brushes with death contribute to the rapid erosion of his sanity.

* Deadshot in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016''. Thanks to his aim and skill he usually is in the front of TheTeam scouting out trouble. Also comes into play with their first encounter with [[spoiler:Enchantress' soldiers.]] He takes point in front of the team and sets himself up from an elevated position where he sets up taking down hostiles with headshot after headshot. In fact, the rest of the [[RedShirts special forces team]] behind him just stop shooting, as he [[OneManArmy kills off the swarming hostiles before they could even get in their line of fire.]]

* In ''Literature/ShardsOfHonor'', when Aral Vorkosigan has to assault a group of mutineers, knowing they will face nerve disruptors with stunners, he puts himself as the head of the assault team. However, Sergeant Bothari refuses and claims he has earned the first place.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. In a PlayerParty, the person in front is usually a member of a warrior class (fighter, paladin, ranger, etc.) because they have the most HitPoints of any class, are allowed to wear the heaviest armor and wield the greatest variety of (and best) weapons. If no fighters are available, a cleric/priest type can fill in.
* The ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' "Tips for Traitors" article (in ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine #106 and some later rulebooks) advises Troubleshooter team leaders to order their most dangerous subordinates to take this position, as it is the most dangerous place on the team. Not only is the point man most likely to be hit by the enemies' weapons, he's also the target of the weapons and scrutiny of his own team members, which (considering the [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder nature]] of ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'') is far deadlier.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* PlayedForLaughs in ''Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG'', item 31:
--> The backup trap handler is not whoever has the most HP at the time.
[[/folder]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/LoveDeathAndRobots'' episode "Shape-Shifters", a werewolf Marine takes point on patrol, as he's better at (literally) sniffing out the enemy and his HealingFactor means he can survive an ambush.

[[folder:Film]]

* As mentioned in ''Film/MissionImpossible1996'', Ethan Hunt used to be the point man for Jim Phelps' team. [[Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries Subsequent movies in the series]] have him alternating between being this and TheLeader.
* In ''{{Film/Cube}}'', the thief character takes the role early on, due to his familiarity with automated alarm systems. However, this only means [[WrongGenreSavvy he gets overconfident]] and dies, after which he's replaced by the cop character as the most physically fit and thus likeliest to survive if a trap is sprung. He does prove he's the most capable in this context, but repeated brushes with death contribute to the rapid erosion of his sanity.

* In ''Literature/ShardsOfHonor'', when Aral Vorkosigan has to assault a group of mutineers, knowing they will face nerve disruptors with stunners, he puts himself as the head of the assault team. However, Sergeant Bothari refuses and claims he has earned the first place.
* Shurf Lonli-Lokli in ''Literature/LabyrinthsOfEcho'' is the primary point man of the Secret Investigations team. At one point, [[DaChief Juffin]] explains to Max that Shurf is the best combat mage on the team whose incapacitation, while bad, wouldn't bring down the entire operation (like Kofa or Juffin's own would). Also, Shurf boasts almost impeccable magical defense and is effectively immune to ambush thanks to his attention to minuscule details.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. In a PlayerParty, the person in front is usually a member of a warrior class (fighter, paladin, ranger, etc.) because they have the most HitPoints of any class, are allowed to wear the heaviest armor and wield the greatest variety of (and best) weapons. If no fighters are available, a cleric/priest type can fill in.
* Some [[HumongousMecha BattleMechs]] are built to be pointmen in their units in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech''. One sterling example is the ''Grasshopper,'' which in spite of its whimsical name is actually a massively armored, jump-capable 70-ton terror, and is loaded down with close-combat laser weapons and the heat sinks to fire them. Favored tactics for ''Grasshoppers'' include jumping into the midst of an enemy formation to disrupt it, forcing enemies to split their attention or hurry to defend their [[GlassCannon lightly-armored long-range fire support]], and occasionally punching people in the face.

* Skipper from ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' usually puts himself on point. In one early episode where he teams up with Marlene, she appoints herself the point man, and Skipper whines "I'm usually on point!"

Compare/contrast TheSneakyGuy, who is also often sent in first but with a different mission: to scout ahead and return without alarming the enemy. The key difference between a point man and a scout (including an ArmyScout) is that the former always stays in contact (e.g. within viewing or shouting distance) with the rest of the squad, while the latter doesn't. Sometimes referred to as the "Polish/Irish Mine Detector". Compare TheBigGuy, who's usually going to overlap with this trope.

Compare/contrast TheSneakyGuy, who is also often sent in first but with a different mission: to scout ahead and return without alarming the enemy. The key difference between a point man and a scout (including an ArmyScout) is that the former always stays in contact (e.g. within viewing or shouting distance) with the rest of the squad, while the latter doesn't. Sometimes referred to as the "Polish/Irish Mine Detector".

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': SergeantRock Shirakabe is a PrivateMilitaryContractor and OldSoldier who likes to take point (for PercussiveTherapy in one instance). He's equipped with PoweredArmor special tailored to melee combat, and his SignatureMove is to send his enemies PunchedAcrossTheRoom via kick, clogging up hallways with monster corpses.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: When Bobby Strong is one of the Holliday Girls on mission she pretty much always goes in first, ordered or [[LeeroyJenkins of her own volition]]. Given she's got superhuman strength and her reaction to being led to an execution is to dare those giving the orders to kill her themselves this works out fairly well, since she is exceptionally hard to actually injure.

* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}s''. When the Marines first land and prepare to enter the colony complex, Sergeant Apone orders {{Vasquez|AlwaysDies}} to take point. She carries a machine gun that is more powerful and does more damage than the weapons the other Marines carry. Which is normally [[HollywoodTactics a poor tactic]], as she can't use her weapon for its intended role of fire support. In this case however their enemy is unarmed and fond of attacking ''en masse'' in a restricted area, so the tactic does make sense on this occasion.

* As mentioned on the first ''Film/MissionImpossible'' film, Ethan Hunt used to be the point man for Jim Phelps' team. Subsequent movies on the series have him alternating between being this and TheLeader.

* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}s''. When the Marines first land and prepare to enter the colony complex, Sergeant Apone orders {{Vasquez|AlwaysDies}} to take point. She carries a machine gun that is more powerful and does more damage than the weapons the other Marines carry. Which is actually [[HollywoodTactics a poor tactic]], as she can't use her weapon for its intended role of fire support (on the other hand their enemy is unarmed).

* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}s''. When the Marines first land and prepare to enter the colony complex, Sergeant Apone orders {{Vasquez|AlwaysDies}} to take point. She carries a machine gun that is more powerful and does more damage than the weapons the other Marines carry. Which is actually [[HollywoodTactics a poor tactic]], as she can't use her weapon for its intended role of fire support.

TheLeader rarely makes a good point man because even though he is [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking often the best fighter]], the consequences of losing him are [[DecapitatedArmy too grave]]. Even a FrontlineGeneral rarely moves to the point position, though in some settings a leader is expected to show that they practice what they preach and lead by example. A LeeroyJenkins is either an overzealous point man or someone who shouldn't be the point man in the first place but decides to be one anyway.

* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has an entire CharacterClass dedicated to this role in the Assault specialist. These soldiers have the most HitPoints of all classes thanks to their Major-rank skill, Extra Conditioning, and are the only ones that can use their guns after dashing (an extended movement that takes both action points), or after moving for the second time, thanks to their most basic skill, Run & Gun. Their SkillTree mainly revolves around further boosting their defense (survivability) or increasing their CriticalHit chances. One skill in particular, Lightning Reflexes, allows them to automatically dodge the first Overwatch reaction shot. In addition to that, the optional Close Combat Specialist skill gives them [[InstantDeathRadius a free reaction shot if an enemy moves within a certain distance of them]] and can trigger with multiple enemies so long as the Assault has ammo in the magazine (or is using a [[BottomlessMagazines pistol]]); in case they end up flanked by an enemy that doesn't get close enough to trigger that, the Resilience skill {{No Sell}}s {{Critical Hit}}s. Giving them Mimetic Skin, which conceals the user if they're in full cover and out of enemy sight when they start moving, makes them almost the ultimate scout, only beat in raw distance by Supports with Sprinter (move 3 tiles further in normal movement or 6 while dashing) or Snipers with Low Profile (even half cover counts as full cover, so Mimetic Skin can proc anywhere).[[note]]Even then, the Training Roulette option can be generous and give both of these to a lucky Assault.[[/note]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has an entire CharacterClass dedicated to this role in the Assault specialist. These soldiers have the most HitPoints of all classes thanks to their Major-rank skill, Extra Conditioning, and are the only ones that can use their guns after dashing (an extended movement that takes both action points), or after moving for the second time, thanks to their most basic skill, Run & Gun. Their SkillTree mainly revolves around further boosting their defense (survivability) or increasing their CriticalHit chances. One skill in particular, Lightning Reflexes, allows them to automatically dodge the first Overwatch reaction shot. In addition to that, the optional Close Combat Specialist skill gives them [[InstantDeathRadius a free reaction shot if an enemy moves within a certain distance of them]] and can trigger with multiple enemies so long as the Assault has ammo in the magazine (or is using a [[BottomlessMagazines pistol]]); in case they end up flanked by an enemy that doesn't get close enough to trigger that, the Resilience skill {{No Sell}}s {{Critical Hit}}s. Giving them Mimetic Skin, which conceals the user if they're in full cover and out of enemy sight when they start moving, makes them almost the ultimate scout, only beat in raw distance by Supports with Sprinter (move 3 tiles further in normal movement or 6 while dashing) or Snipers with Low Profile (even half cover counts as full cover, so Mimetic Skin can proc anywhere).[[note]]Even then, the Training Roulette option can be generous and give both of these to a lucky Assault.[[/note]]