Tycho

Tycho was a Desert Ranger from east of California, in the Nevada area. His family comes from people who survived the devastation when Great War happened, likely living among the badlands of Nevada. 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.

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. Around 2161 he stayed for a while in the town of Junktown, and probably helped a man known as the Vault Dweller in getting rid of Gizmo, the town's crime boss.

Tycho always carried a gas mask just in case, wore hardened Leather Armor, has a knife, knuckles, canteen, all the usual survival gear. He was this guy in leather armor 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.

Appearances in games
Tycho is a joinable NPC in the first Fallout game. To recruit Tycho, the player must head to Junktown and be at the Skum Pitt at 5 o'clock. Tycho will join you if you have taken on Killian's quest to deal with Gizmo.

Stats

 * Hit Points: 60.
 * Armor: Leather Armor.
 * Weapons: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns.
 * Give him the Combat Shotgun when you get it.
 * Special: He is equipped with the best armor and has the most health of all the NPCs who can join you.
 * Tycho can teach you some survival skills.
 * Rating: Good throughout the game. Unarguably the best NPC.

Behind the scenes
Tycho being a Desert Ranger is a reference to Wasteland, a 1980s game which is considered to be Fallout's predecessor. He also makes a passing mention about the "fat freak" which is a reference to Fat Freddy in Wasteland.