How would you compare him to other INTJs you've encountered?
Well, I only know 3 to be indubitably INTJ. The one I know best is really more innovative than anyone I've ever met. He and I are discussing making a few films. What he's described to me is leading up to what seems to be literally a full on overhaul of the industry as we know it. I realize that kind of conquest sounds reminiscent of an ENTJ, but hear me out. He has made no action toward realizing it. I'm beginning to wonder if he actually plans to implement and would rather just continue brooding; scheming until doomsday before he'll make his move.
The same seems to be taking place in his romantic life. He's yet to become involved with a woman, as he continues waiting until he finds a prey which he regards as worthy and formidable, which he can acquire the undying affection of in a single strategic pounce.
What I notice about the INTJs is that they will not make a single move until they're absolutely certain that their plan is fool proof. The less expressed on any given dichotomy lessens this trait, but the one I spoke of above is fairly strongly expressed on all four.
Now, I'll match him up against my brother, whom I know second best.
I'll say first that he's not nearly as reserved as the one I just finished describing. Still an extreme introvert (INTJs seem to be curiously more kept to themselves than any other type, at least in my experience). This one is a lot more of a sensor than the previous as well, though I can tell that he's more Se than Si. This creates often, the appearance of an ISTP, however when you look at his schoolwork you begin to realize almost immediately with extremely high scores in advanced mathematics courses that he is not an ISTP. He also is significantly more organized than any P, especially not the imposingly spread out ISTP.
Enough about that. I know my brother best as he shows himself in a game, many of you may know, called "DotA"
It's a strategy game (of course) wherein the player chooses a "hero" and does battle with the other heros while avoiding enemy "creeps" which are smaller characters who can't carry items and have less health and do less damage. Their function is to destroy the enemy towers, when aided by a hero. The towers' destruction leads the the crown jewel, the frozen throne which has to be destroyed to achieve victory. Killing creeps and heros is rewarded with extra gold, which can be spent to build a stronger arsenal of weaponry. This will of course make getting other kills much easier.
I outline the objective and means of the game so I can do the same of my brother's strategy. It's a very capitalist game, and I absolutely suck at it. My brother however is a genius. He's figured out that the key to winning is a good start, as is the case with any capitalist system. Of course he'll never tell anyone (not even his own dear brother) how to win, as it might lower his chances for success. In any event, his usual tactic is to dwindle another hero's health down to where he can strike with a single spell and end their life, whence they must wait for reincarnation and walk back into the battle. This causes not only an increase in his revenue, but a decrease in his enemy's and a loss of experience points during the away time.
Suffice to say he's mastered the semantics of the game to where he can experiment with whatever item build he chooses and can always make it work. It seems, he's especially good at predicting the other character's item builds, and is known how to react accordingly. This is of course only an undercurrent to his larger schemes which he shares with, I presume no one.
Going back to the first INTJ I mention, I'd like to discuss one of his interests. Actually, I wouldn't like to discuss the interest rather, I'm more interested to discuss WHY he's interested in it, since I actually have very little knowledge in the field.
He's become immensely engrossed in fighting: martial arts. He says it's all about being able to defend himself when he needs to, but sometimes (rarely - he has trouble opening up and sharing much, though is able to express himself to me) discusses the philosophy of fighting. He doesn't say so explicitly, but one gets the sense that he feels some spirituality, (much like bruce lee's philosophy of fighting) in the art. More often, we discuss strategies. He doesn't describe in detail any maneuvers but rather emphasizes that the attacks he's learning could be used in conjunction and with the right force and timing he could literally cripple any opponent. Even one twice his size.
This is I think thanks to Te being more openly expressed than Ni. The philosophy seems highly obscure and poorly developed, though it could just be that with weak linguistic skills (never been an interest of his) he has difficulty conveying the points and feelings he gets. Especially since it comes from deeply internalized intuition, where all is reduced to clumps of information which take the form of symbols. These things are very difficult to express, due to the great mass of each concept created by intuition. This is why, I think, the perception of the NJ variety is kept within. Speaking of a single concept is simply too much, and often there aren't words to succinctly define what is to be conveyed. So inward goes the information and is instead put forth via thinking, at least in NTJs.
He's much more interested in art than anyone I've ever met. Though interest is probably not a good word to describe what art is for him. He's expressed on several occasions incredibly profound realization from observing artistic pieces and compositions.
I can only speculate as to what it all means to him and what kind of spiritual journeys he's been through. If anyone has ever seen "Pirates of Silicon Valley" think about Steve Jobs. My kid I'm talking about is like an extremely reserved version of Steve, though his visions are no less grandiose and open to ingenuity and innovation.
How's that Night?
Addition: The closer of my INTJ friends seems to have a raging emotional side. Very little energy is devoted to it, but what's there appears to be scrutiny of self. The same mercurial Fi that IxFPs often sadden themselves with (over whatever things - lost makeup in the sensing or genocide in the intuiting one) seems to be active in my calculating friend. It may have taken years for him to open that up to me, but I've managed to record a few shimmers of the highly held within function.