Psyche-Out

F Gd 10

A Gd 10

S Ty 6

E Gd 10

R Ex 20

I Ex 20

P Ex 20

Res Ex 20

Pop Sh 0

Health: Karma:

36 60

Origin:

As are most of his fellows on the Gi Joe team, Psyche-Out is naught but a normal human - at least, in a strictly physical sense. He does however have access to highly advanced radio wave transmission gear, which could technically make him count as a high tech hero.

Known Powers:

(none)

Equipment:

Radio Wave Equipment: Kenneth carries a rig of highly advanced radio wave transmission gear with him on missions. It consists of a primary emitter he can use to beam signals at a specific target, who is bombarded with ultra low frequency radio waves.

These waves have the effect of inducing paranoia in Kenneth's target, and function at Excellent (20) rank. People subjected to these U.L.F. waves must pass a Psc FEAT against this intensity to act normal despite what the signals are doing to their very brains.

In addition to this, Kenneth has additional gear that allows him to serve as an 'RF bomb' of sorts. Thanks to a back mounted generator, along with control circuitry on his chest and various emitters he can strap on to his body, he can transmit radio frequency 'noise' in all directions.

This is an effective Electronic Counter Measure, which can easily jam radar units and communication signals equally well, doing so with Excellent (20) ability. Such systems have to overcome Kenneth's interference in order to function at all, though they'll still be less than fully effective.

Semi-automatic Pistol: handy should one of his targets get wise to Kenneth's trickery, this sidearm is good for putting down most any opposition. It can be fired to inflict Typical (6) Shooting damage in a single shot, raised +1 CS in a semi-automatic spread.

Quirks:

(none)

Talents:

Guns: though direct action isn't his primary specialty, Kenneth can still readily shoot conventional firearms should the need become apparent. Whether it's a standard, semi-automatic or fully automatic rifle or pistol, Kenneth can fire it at his Agy +1 CS.

Manipulation: in addition to his psychological training, Kenneth is well-versed in the fine art of convincing people to do what he wants - often without them even knowing it. He should receive a +1 CS in all efforts to manipulate others, whether covertly or overtly.

Martial Arts type B: all members of the military are trained in the art of self defense, and Kenneth is no exception. Whenever he engages in unarmed melee, Kenneth may add a +1 CS to his Ftg for such purposes, whether he's punching, kicking or even biting an opponent.

Military / United States: he gained his degree before enlisting, but Kenneth saw that the Army was the way to go for his future. Having been properly indoctrinated, he has an instinctual understanding of the S.O.P., and can easily function in a martial environment.

Psychology: the source of his college study, Kenneth is an expert in the human mind and how it operates. He should receive a +1 CS on any FEAT required when predicting the behavior of others, which comes in handy while deciding how to manipulate them...

Contacts:

As Psyche-Out, Kenneth is a reliable member of the Gi Joe team, and most of them like having him along on covert ops because he tends to make their job so much easier. He has additional contacts in military and academic circles, particularly those of a psychological bent.

Costume:

Kenneth's first Gi Joe uniform is somewhat odd. It includes a long sleeved, light gray shirt beneath a padded green T shirt, dark gray trousers, black gloves, black leather boots, a black leather belt with a silver buckle, and all of his various strap-on R.F. devices.

Personality:

Kenneth is a very smart individual, who can't help but exert his knowledge of the human mind upon others. He thinks in symbolism and is inherently duplicitous, not because he's a shady person but because he's always trying to think 'ahead' of his enemies by several steps.

Real Name: Kenneth D. Rich, Grade O-2 (later O-3)
Occupation: psy-ops expert, counselor
Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record
Marital Status: single
Alias(es), if any: none
Group Affiliation: Gi Joe, Night Force (Gi Joe sub-group), Super-sonic Fighters (Gi Joe sub-group)

Height: 5' 10"
Hair: blonde
Eyes: blue
Weight: 165 lbs
Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none

Story:

Kenneth got his start at the University of Berkley, where he received his degree in psychology, particularly in deceptive warfare. You can kind of get a hint at the nature of his work by his doctoral thesis: 'the Use of T-Shirt Slogans in Enemy Troop Demoralization.'

Once he had his degree, Kenneth became involved with all kinds of experiments involving the inducement of paranoia using ultra low frequency (U.L.F.) radio waves, a methodology all too familiar to the military, who has dealt with similar Cobra technology in the past.

From there Kenneth enlisted in the armed forces, and was quickly put to work at Fort Bragg, where he became a leading expert and pioneer on broadcast-based behavioral modification. This bleeding edge work got him noticed by the powers that be, however.

It wasn't long before this psy-ops expert was recruited onto the Gi Joe team. Once he'd managed to survive the Gi Joe entrance exam, Kenneth was mixed in with the rest of the Joes, though they were in the process of building their new base in the time, and somewhat paranoid.

Investigating this with Chuckles, Kenneth inadvertently discovered the Joes' biggest new secret: the Defiant space complex! The two were finally 'cleared' shortly after this though, and quickly got to work with their new teammates against various international terrorists.

Kenneth's specific work involved a lot of highly classified, Special Missions work. His job was to anticipate Cobra actions in the face of various threats and events, usually helping the rest of a field group to perform some nefarious deed or another against them without their knowledge.

He continued on with the Joes for years, slowly becoming more and more vital to the team. He's worked with the Night Force and developed experimental gadgetry both for his own use and for the team's 'Sonic Fighters' experimental weapons group.

When the Joes folded temporarily in '94, Kenneth continued his work with conventional military forces, as the Army can always use men like him to do predictive analysis on enemy action. He remained there in this capacity even after the Joes were reactivated a few years later.

Of course, when the Joes have need of him, Kenneth is always ready to lend his specialized assistance to his team, as he did both during the second Cobra Island Civil War and of course World War III itself, helping to narrowly avoid a Cobra takeover of the entire world!

Extra Goodies:

Gi Joe directories featuring a version of Psyche-Out:

1987

1988

1991