Tycho

Tycho is a Desert RangerTycho: "{173}{}{You gain 300 experience points for recruiting Tycho, the desert ranger.}"(Tycho's dialogue) and a recruitable companion in Fallout.
==Background==
Born in a survivalist community in what was once Nevada, Tycho is the grandson of a Texas Ranger, and heir to at least two generations of training, knowledge, and weapons. His family rode out the war in the safety of this community in the Nevada badlands, learning everything about survival in his youth, from identifying safe water sources, to a laundry list of little things to look out for, and growing up hearing stories about the wasteland, such as his father's experience with a "fat freak" in Las Vegas.The Vault Dweller: "{107}{}{So, what's your story?}"Tycho: "{109}{}{I could ask the same of you. In the interest of amity, I suppose I'll tell first. I'm called Tycho. Came from out east, what used to be called Nevada.}"The Vault Dweller: "{110}{}{That's a pretty long trip.}""{112}{}{Yeah, it was. Decided to take it easy for a while. This place shows some promise, just as soon as someone cleans up some of the scum.}"The Vault Dweller: "{113}{}{Why don't you?}""{118}{}{Not my place. I'd rather not cross Killian, after all. He'll clean up this town when he gets around to it. A good man, mark my words. But watch out for that fellow Gizmo. Reminds me of another fat freak my father told me about back in Las Vegas.}"(Tycho's dialogue)The Vault Dweller: "{111}{}{How did you survive all the dangers?}"Tycho: "{115}{}{Had some pretty good training, and some good weapons, too. My grandfather was a Ranger way back when, and he taught my father everything he knew. Dad passed it on to me. So I know enough not to drink glowing water, so to speak.}"The Vault Dweller: "{117}{}{Really? Survival's tough these days. You must be pretty knowledgeable.}"Tycho: "{122}{}{Yeah, well, my family taught me everything there is to know about survival. Don't drink water that's totally clear and free of insects and moss, for instance. Only poisonous or radioactive water would be that clean in the wilderness. Lots of other little things to look out for, too.}"(Tycho's dialogue) Eventually, he became a full member of Desert Rangers, using his survival and combat skills to go out into the world and make life just a little easier for mankind, like Texas Rangers of old.The Vault Dweller: "{1001}{}{Rangers}"Tycho: "{1101}{}{We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
Tycho developed a taste for travels, first close to home, then steadily expanding his horizons as he gained experience. Eventually, he reached the Gulf of Mexico in former Texas, becoming a long range explorer for the Rangers. By the time the Vault Dweller runs into him, he's taken a break from exploring in order to take it easy at Junktown for a while.Jesse Heinig in Fallout Bible 9: "Tycho's a nod to the desert rangers of Wasteland. Obviously that "history" didn't wind up in Fallout, so that makes it more of an homage than anything.Originally, the idea is that he came from east of California, in the Nevada area. His family comes from people who survived the devastation when WAR happened, likely living among the badlands of Nevada. As I envisaged it, Tycho learned a lot about desert survival and whatnot from his small community, which kept a strong survivalist contingent -- so they still had some small arms and books. They probably had something like the cliff-dwelling Indians going on for their town, though I never fleshed it out.Anyway, Tycho took off to wandering the desert with traders and explorers for several years, returning from time to time with goods or maps. Most likely he started with small trips and went further abroad as he became more experienced. He went as far as the Gulf of Mexico in Texas and then headed back west. Eventually he wound up on the west coast as a long-range explorer from a loose group of desert rangers whose actual origins, scope and purpose weren't defined.In some ways Tycho is reminiscent of master Yuta from 'Nausicaa and the Valley of the Winds.' He carries a gas mask just in case, wears hardened leather armor, has a knife, knuckles, canteen, all the usual survival gear. I'd pictured him as this guy in leather armor (Fallout-style) with a gas mask hanging around his neck, goggles (to keep out sand and glare), a sand-colored cloak usable for camouflage and to keep the sun off, and a double-barreled shotgun."Note: Tycho's background is actually elaborated upon in the game, including many of the above facts. 
By this time, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge about New California and the pre-War world. He knows about VaultsTycho: "{1118}{}{I've heard of the great underground Vaults. I don't know much about them, though.}"(Tycho's dialogue) and pre-War military bases,Tycho: "{1139}{}{The military had several secret bases scattered about, I know. I just don't know where.}"(Tycho's dialogue) including knowledge of force fields,Tycho: "{157}{}{I bet we could get through those force-field generators with a little hot-wiring, or if we could find the force field control computer.}"(Tycho's dialogue) facility layouts,Tycho: "{156}{}{A military place like this must have a central command room somewhere.}"(Tycho's dialogue) and nuclear strikes directed against them during the War.Tycho: "{154}{}{Watch out for radioactive hot spots. This place obviously sustained a direct nuclear strike, and secondary cascade radiation may be bad. I'd recommend avoiding this place completely if we can.}"(Tycho's dialogue) He also has his ear to the ground, collecting tales about wasteland mythsTycho: "{1129}{}{Heard some tales about something faster, bigger, and meaner than any living creature has a right to be. Not too many, though, which means that it doesn't leave many survivors. Big claws, ferocious disposition.}"(TYCHO.MSG) combining it with his knowledge about wildlifeTycho: "{155}{}{Note the lack of any animal life for quite a distance. And the piles of bones. Whatever lives here is a real beast. Keep your weapon handy.}"(Tycho's dialogue) and the region.Tycho: "{1142}{}{Certainly there are some strange things out there. I've seen mutated scorpions and cows, and I've heard that Necropolis is home to ghouls, who seem human but are far different.}"(Tycho's dialogue) While he is well traveled, he has yet to visit the Boneyard, a place of gangs and hard life.Tycho: "{1123}{}{The Boneyard? I'm told it's a place of gangs and hard life, near the coast.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
===Personality===
As a Ranger, Tycho is no stranger to violence and has sustained multiple injuries during his life. He is missing pieces of his ears,Tycho: "{8510}{}{Lost another piece of my ear . . .}"(Tycho's dialogue) teeth,Tycho: "{8511}{}{Dammit, there goes another tooth . . .}"(Tycho's dialogue) on top of legTycho: "{8520}{}{I've had a broken leg before.}"(Tycho's dialogue) and rib fractures.Tycho: "{8517}{}{Dang it, another busted rib.}"(Tycho's dialogue) As a result, he developed a kind of grim resolve when fighting: Anyone trying to kill him better aim for the head,Tycho: "{8518}{}{If you wanna kill me, try the head.}"(Tycho's dialogue) because any other injury will merely slow him downTycho: "{8519}{}{You can slow me down, but I'll still get ya.}"(Tycho's dialogue) before he inevitably finds and kills his foe, painfully.Tycho: "{8524}{}{If I'm blind, I'm gonna hurt you before I kill you.}"(Tycho's dialogue) The only injury that might give him pause is damage to his right, shooting hand or arm.Tycho: "{8515}{}{Dang it, that's my shootin' hand.}"(Tycho's dialogue)Note: Upon being hit in the right arm. Being right-handed, Tycho shrugs off damage to his other left.Tycho: "{8513}{}{Didn't need that arm anyways.}"(TYCHO.MSG)Note: Upon being hit in the left arm. However, as a Ranger he doesn't rely purely on firearms, he can use any melee weapon comfortably, especially a spear.Vault Dweller: "{164}{}{What sorts of weapon skills have you learned?}"
Tycho: "{165}{}{Pretty good ranger training: I can use a spear, of course, in a pinch; I'm also skilled with small pistols and rifles.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
Despite his vicious fighting style, he remains an honest, polite man,Neal: "{129}{}{Fella's called Tycho. Apparently a ranger from back east or something. Pretty nasty fighter, from what I hear, but a straight-up character.}"(Neal's dialogue) fond of a good strong stout.Tycho: "{1151}{}{I prefer a good strong stout, or perhaps a Nuka-Cola.}"(Tycho's dialogue) Skum Pitt's watered-down beer doesn't quite cut it, but he doesn't complain, as Nuka-Cola is just as good.Tycho: "{106}{}{Delightful. I hope you don't mind your drink well-watered - they treat beer here like it's a potted plant.}"(Tycho's dialogue) He steers away from chems, as while they give a boost, the user always pays for it dearly in the end.Tycho: "{1152}{}{I'd stay away from chems if I were you. Sure, they can give you a boost, but you always wind up paying for it in the end.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
Overall, Tycho has strong convictions and an internal moral compass. He despises Gizmo, believing that Junktown has promise that can be realized under Killian Darkwater's leadership (though Tycho is skeptical of the idea of building a future out of the refuse of the past).Tycho: "{1100}{}{Well, Junktown's not really home, but it's an interesting city. It has potential, although I don't know that building out of the refuse of the past is the best way to construct the future.}"(Tycho's dialogue) He purposefully avoids Gizmo's casino, and the only reason he'd enter it is to step on Gizmo's neck, though he's skeptical of his ability to get past his blubber.Tycho: "{1127}{}{Gizmo's casino is probably one of the last places I'd want to go, unless I were going to step on Gizmo's neck. Not that I could get a foot past all the blubber.}"(Tycho's dialogue) Tycho is aware that he could clean up the town's scum, starting with the Skulz, but he believes it's not his place to step in. Killian will clean the town up when the time's right. 
His attitude seems to stem from a firm belief in self-reliance, as opposed to eg. lashing himself to faulty pieces of Old World technology.Tycho: "{1102}{}{I haven't seen a relic of old technology like a water chip for a long time. Personally, you're better off depending on yourself, not on some piece of tech that you can't fix.}"(Tycho's dialogue) He also hopes that the Great War, testament to human greed and insanity, taught humanity a few things, or at least enough to avoid repeating it.Tycho: "{1103}{}{The War was a testament to human greed and insanity. Let's hope that we have learned enough to never repeat such folly.}"(Tycho's dialogue) After all, the survivors pay the price for mankind's hubris everyday.Tycho: "{1141}{}{Nuclear armageddon was the result of pride and foolishness. Now, we're paying the price.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
===Equipment===
Tycho's kit includes a dusty leather armor, with a trenchcoat and a gas maskTycho's character description: "{100}{}{You see a man in dusty leather armor with a trenchcoat and gas mask.}"(Tycho's dialogue) worn loose around his neck, as well as all the necessary survival gear like a knife, knuckles, canteen, and a pair of goggles to keep his eyes safe. The trenchcoat is sand-colored for camouflage and doubles as protection against sand and glare.
==Interactions with the player character==
===Fallout===
====Interactions overview====
===Companion===
* To recruit Tycho, the player must head to Junktown's Skum Pitt, located in the far northeastern part of the city. The bar opens up at 17:00 (5 p.m.). Tycho can be recruited by mentioning Killian's job to take Gizmo out; if the player killed Killian already, Tycho will refuse to join. Recruiting him is worth 300 experience points.
** When first talking to him, the player will have an option to join him for a drink. Pursuing this unique dialogue option will provide one Nuka-Cola and a permanent +5% to Outdoorsman.
* Tycho uses the bald, leather armor sprite and his weapon choice is limited by his animation frames: He can use unarmed weapons, spears, small pistols, and rifles/shotguns. He has the most hit points out of all the companions and the second best armor resistances in the game (after Katja and equal to Dogmeat), making him a very valuable addition.
* As with Ian, giving Tycho automatic weapons like the assault rifle or combat shotgun is ill-advised, as AI doesn't check for friendlies when firing bursts. The sniper rifle is the optimal choice, unless the Red Ryder LE BB gun is available: It has a more consistent damage output and Tycho can fire it twice per round.
====Other interactions====
* If caught stealing Neal's urn from the Skum Pitt while not in the player's party, Tycho will turn hostile.
* In the Bridge Keeper encounter, the Bridgekeeper may ask "Which non-player character from Fallout 1 survived to appear in the sequel?" Tycho is one of the wrong answers.Bridgekeeper: "{134}{}{Which non-player character from Fallout 1 survived to appear in the sequel?}"The Chosen One: " {142}{}{Uh...Tycho?}"(Bridgekeeper's dialogue)
====Tell me about====
Tycho's Tell-Me-Abouts 	Tycho's Tell-Me-Abouts
Query 	Response
Junktown 	Well, Junktown's not really home, but it's an interesting city. It has potential, although I don't know that building out of the refuse of the past is the best way to construct the future.
Rangers 	We Rangers hail from back east, what used to be called Nevada. Our heritage stretches back to the days of the Texas Rangers. We learn survival and combat skills in order to go out into the world and have a chance of surviving and making things better.
Chip 	I haven't seen a relic of old technology like a water chip for a long time. Personally, you're better off depending on yourself, not on some piece of tech that you can't fix.
War 	The War was a testament to human greed and insanity. Let's hope that we have learned enough to never repeat such folly.
Wastes 	The wastes are hostile and dangerous, even to the wary traveler. Radiation and strange creatures will take their toll. Tread with caution, and remember that everything you see and hear is a clue.
Necropolis 	The City of Death is well named. It lies in what used to be the little town of Bakersfield. Now, though, it's home to ghouls and worse.
Vault 	I've heard of the great underground Vaults. I don't know much about them, though.
Killian Darkwater 	Killian's a good man doing a difficult job.
Gizmo 	Gizmo is . . . well, he strikes me as a crook. He'll get his in the end.
Boneyard 	The Boneyard? I'm told it's a place of gangs and hard life, near the coast.
The Hub 	The Hub's a giant mercantile community, just a short ways south of Junktown.
Casino 	Gizmo's casino is probably one of the last places I'd want to go, unless I were going to step on Gizmo's neck. Not that I could get a foot past all the blubber.
Store 	Killian has a decent general store in Junktown.
Deathclaw 	Heard some tales about something faster, bigger, and meaner than any living creature has a right to be. Not too many, though, which means that it doesn't leave many survivors. Big claws, ferocious disposition.
MilitaryBase 	The military had several secret bases scattered about, I know. I just don't know where.
Apocalypse 	Nuclear armageddon was the result of pride and foolishness. Now, we're paying the price.
Mutants, Strange 	Certainly there are some strange things out there. I've seen mutated scorpions and cows, and I've heard that Necropolis is home to ghouls, who seem human but are far different.
Booze 	I prefer a good strong stout, or perhaps a Nuka-Cola.
Chems, Drugs 	I'd stay away from chems if I were you. Sure, they can give you a boost, but you always wind up paying for it in the end.
Psychics 	You mean telepathetics? Heh . . . seriously, I don't buy it.
Merchants 	Some merchants from the Hub visit Junktown and other cities on a regular basis.
Brotherhood, Cathedral, Children, Exodus, Followers, Garl, Master, Unity, Set, Watershed, Hall, Library, Overseer, Medic, Healing, Initiates, Paladins, Scribes, Vats	"I'm sorry, I can't help you there."
====Comments====
Tycho's comments 	Tycho's comments
Location 	Comment
Deathclaw's lair 	Note the lack of any animal life for quite a distance. And the piles of bones. Whatever lives here is a real beast. Keep your weapon handy.
Necropolis 	There are many strange tales about Necropolis, the city of the dead. Stay alert, because it could get dangerous really fast.
The Glow 	Watch out for radioactive hot spots. This place obviously sustained a direct nuclear strike, and secondary cascade radiation may be bad. I'd recommend avoiding this place completely if we can.
Mariposa Military Base	A military place like this must have a central command room somewhere. I bet we could get through those force-field generators with a little hot-wiring, or if we could find the force field control computer.
Giant Footprint 	Yeah, I'd stay the hell away from whatever made that. Seriously, I've never seen anything like that. I think our best option is to move on, fast.
===Fallout: New California===
Tycho can be found randomly when taking a card from the loot deck. When exploring with him as the active companion, the player character can exhaust him in to gain two experience points.
When the player character performs the camp action, he will become unexhausted. However, if the player character does not have Endurance, he must be discarded.
==Inventory==
==Appearances==
Tycho appears in Fallout and the Fallout: The Board Game expansion Fallout: New California. He is also mentioned in Fallout 2.
==Behind the scenes==
* Tycho's grandfather was a Desert Ranger (the Desert Rangers are a reference to the eponymous faction from Wasteland, a 1988 game that Fallout was originally a sequel to).The Origins of Fallout Tycho also mentions the "fat freak" from Las Vegas, which is a reference to Fat Freddy from Wasteland. The reference to Fat Freddy was a one-off, although Fallout: New Vegas did elaborate more on the Desert Rangers themselves.Chris Avellone's Twitter (archived): "During development of New Vegas, were there plans to incorporate more Desert Ranger/Wasteland references, like the 'fat freak mobster' Tycho mentioned in F1? And later on, was Wasteland 2 to feature NV references, but were cut/decided to be unfitting for the game?""No, we only tried to do it with Old World Blues, because part of OWB was supposed to be an homage to Fallout's roots (ex: Giant Robot Scorpitr- er, Scorpion)."
* Tycho is not mentioned anywhere in the Fallout 2 manual, but the younger Tandi in the Café of Broken Dreams mentions him.Tandi: "{109}{}{Say...do you and Tycho still keep in touch?}"(Tandi's dialogue)
* Tycho references Star Wars when describing Junktown's layout, describing the Skum Pitt as "a wretched hive of villainy and all that."Tycho: "{141}{}{Well, this is the Skum Pitt, a wretched hive of villainy and all that. Just west of here is Gizmo's, a big casino. Word is the games are rigged. A little south of here is the Crash House, run by Marcelles, where you can get a night's sleep for way too many caps. Past that is Killian's. Killian runs a general store, and he also enforces the law in this town - a good man. Then south of there you have Doc Morbid, whose operation is a little funny, if you take my meaning.}"(Tycho's dialogue)
* His name is a latinized version of Tyche,Tycho on Wikipedia the Greek goddess of luck and fate.Tyche on Wikipedia
* According to Joshua Sawyer, the Ranger combat armor was inspired by Tycho's description in Fallout ("a man in dusty leather armor with a trench coat and gas mask").J.E. Sawyer on Formspring The design appears on the cover of Fallout: New Vegas.
** In the towering Unification Monument, the Desert Ranger is depicted wearing this armor.
** In the 2018 board game Fallout: New California, this design is used to depict Tycho.
** In-game, Tycho wears the leather armor item, which is visualized as football padding in the inventory.
== Gallery ==
Tychofnc.png|Tycho's Fallout: New California card
==References==
Non-game
Meta
Category:Fallout human characters
Category:Fallout companions
Category:Fallout 2 mentioned-only characters
Category:Fallout: New California companions
Category:Fallout Bible human characters
Category:Junktown characters
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