1. Action, Adventure. Nothing to dark. I like the traveling aspect & hopefully the MC is strong. He gains companions on the way.

2. Intelligent strategist. I've recently been watching Log Horizon & I like the fact that he is known for intelligence. He can change a battle in a second and thinks ahead of everyone.

applies to both:
Male Lead Please
No tragedies or anything depressing

Thank you

I dont know if a sports manga counts as action/adventure for you, but you should try One Outs if you want a strategist. The lead is a male and its not tragic.

[http://www.mangaupdates.com/series.html?id=24507]

1. Obviously One Piece but I guess you're already reading it. Rave too should fit.

2. One Outs seconded. My favorite strategist.
Eyeshield 21 too, but the strategist isn't the MC.
[m]Babysteps[/m] another sports manga, MC is pretty smart.
Gamble Fish, it's kind of like Akagi but without the drama...Not that great but you might like it.

thanks. I have read One piece, but yet to have read Rave. Ive read half of One Outs, should get back to it. As for Gamble Fish, I read it a long time ago. If I remember, i felt instead of "gambling" it was more on the lines of "cheating." I wasnt to fond of the characters either

thank you for the recommendations!

1. -Basara: Young girl fights to change her world; although its a shoujo, guys could read it too
-Sidooh: About two brothers in Japan (forgot what era), lots of action and adventure
-Itsuwaribito Utsuho: Definently read this one. Mixed with a bit of strategy, starts with the MC trying to save others with his lies but it grows into action more and more

2. -Liar Game: This is heavily based on strategy, starts out with a naive girl being forced to take part in a game and would have lost if she had not recived help from the male MC who is a genius
-Kurosagi: Based on swindlers. The MC is called the black swindler because he cons other swindlers. Mental battle between the MC and his targets.
-Chouka Kou: This fits somewher between 1 and 2 becuse there is a bit of strategy although its not heavy on it and there is adventure but there isn't too much action. But you have to read this anyways.

________________

2)
Maji de Watashi ni Koi Shinasai!
Denpa Kyoushi
Kami nomi zo Shiru Sekai

________________
Tournament Round 1
Round 2

.: 1 :.
+ Id - A little dark at times, but mostly just funny. Definitely adventure, travelling, and gathering companions, plus the MC is pretty much the strongest guy (?) around.
+ Legend of the Sun Knight - Not so much traveling, but hilarious nonetheless. I'm not sure how far along the manhua is, but the MC gains various companions from outside his normal sphere of activity along the way in the LN.
+ Superior - Although the main MC is female, the main male is just as important as her.
+ Black Cat - I just plain like this one.

.: 2 :.
+ Historie - No doubt here that the MC is a strategist.
+ Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei - MC is pretty smart, although he doesn't really have much of the "strategist" feel to him. As usual, I like the LN more than the manga.
+ No Game No Life - One half is a genius IQ-wise, the other is a genius at reading people. Invincible gamers :3

+ Also try the "strategic minds" tag.

I'm looking forward to the results of this thread, I also have a thing for smart MCs.

Reading Liar Game, its taking a bit long but its very interesting. Thanks for the recs, ill try them when i get to the current chapter of Liar

Gu Fang Bu Zi Shang - like Chouka Kou as someone else mentioned, it fits between 1 & 2. In general... manhuas with similar settings will probably fit that way.

Wedding - 2, maybe a little 1 in season 2, pretty lighthearted
Code Geass - no one mentioned? o.O

Zetsuen no Tempest - 2, with 1 as well.

Kingdom - fits with both 1 & 2, though granted, the mc is an idiot who only fits 1

As someone else mentioned Legend of the Sun Knight, I'm gonna go ahead and recommend all other Yu Wo's novels & mangas. Most of them probably fits with 1. Like [m]GOD[/m], Kill No More, etc. fits especially well. Her most latest novel 終殭 is a pretty good one too, fits with 1 minus the traveling.

9 Banme no Musashi - episodic style, with plenty action and you CAN say it has adventure, considering she's all over the world

I'd suggest looking into manhuas (and mangas) with Ancient China as the setting, there's a lot of good ones, that fits real well with both types. Idiots main chars won't survive long in that kind of era, nor will weaklings.

________________

second Legend of the Sun Knight -sun is amazing
also Bloody Monday is really good, its not really about action but it has a lot of strategy in it and the MC is really smart

________________
__________________________

Like educational manga? take a look at Ed U. Manga's list of manga here