Rock 'n Roll Melee: RV 10 Coordination: RV 10 Brawn: RV 10 Fortitude: RV 20 Intellect: RV 6 Awareness: RV 20 Willpower: RV 20 Health: 50 Fortune: 46 Lifestyle: RV 10 Repute: RV 0 Origin: Like the vast majority of the GI Joe team, Craig S. McConnel is a normal human, albeit one with exceptional combat training courtesy of the United States Army. Known as Rock 'n Roll by his fellow Joes, he has an almost natural knack with the use of heavy machine guns. Known Powers: (none) Limitations / Enhancements: (none) Equipment: Helmet: as a heavy machine gunner, Rock 'n Roll regularly finds himself in hazardous situations. This is why he wears a standard issue Army helmet in the field, one that offers him rank value 10 protection against physical attacks striking him in the cranium. Knife: since it's such an invaluable tool, Rock 'n Roll always has blade with him at all times. Made from m.v. 30 materials, Rock 'n Roll can use this implement to cut through items of like m.v., or to inflict Slashing damage in melee combat. M60 Machine Gun: his figurative baby, this large machine gun is extremely deadly in Rock 'n Roll's hands. Strictly speaking, this weapon can only fire in a fully automatic mode, but a skilled operator can use it to inflict variable damage when desired. When firing a single shot (which takes a very light touch), Rock 'n Roll can use his M60 to inflict rank value 10 Piercing damage. He may raise this by +1 RS when firing a few additional rounds (not quite so tricky), or +2 RS when allowing the M60 to cycle continuously. Rock 'n Roll's standard ammunition consists of belts of one hundred rounds, loaded with four ball (M80) rounds for every one tracer (M62) round. These tracer rounds aid in the accuracy of fully automatic fire, letting him 'walk' a burst to his foe for a +1 RS to hit. While such belts are ideal when facing off against enemy personnel, Rock 'n Roll sometimes has to put a hole in a vehicle or other obstacle. To this end, he will make use of Armor Piercing rounds, which don't inflict more damage, but reduce armor effectiveness by -2 RS. Though the operation of this firearm is typically a two man job, Rock 'n Roll is strong enough that he does so by himself - not that he'd deny help to carry additional ammunition, or a (M122) tripod that stabilizes its operation (+1 RS to hit, at the cost of his mobility.) the RAM: the RAM, or Rapid-Fire Motorcycle, isn't necessarily Rock 'n Roll's vehicle, but he rides this two-wheeled monster into battle more often than not. After all, it does have a Gatling cannon mounted on the side. Check out its entry for more details. Quirks: (none) Skills: Detective / Espionage: having attended Covert Ops School, Rock 'n Roll can easily perform surveillance missions, infiltrations, and can piece together clues and such involving a crime or mystery. He receives a +1 RS when performing actions towards these ends. Guns: it almost goes without saying that Rock 'n Roll is exceptionally skilled in the use of firearms, from small, hand-held pistols to big-honking man-shredders. He can make attacks with any gun (save for your advanced, energy-types) as if his Coordination trait was +1 RS. Martial Arts style B: Rock 'n Roll's military training provides him basic self-defense tools, which basically come in the form of an offensive skill (for him, at least). If unarmed, Rock 'n Roll can still make melee attacks at a +1 RS to his standard Melee trait. Military / United States: having been in the Army for years, Rock 'n Roll knows military protocols like the back of his hand. Furthermore, he gains a +1 RS when attempting ACTIONs dependent on military knowledge, and receives the military as a free Contact. Sports / Surfing: growing up on the beaches of Malibu, Rock 'n Roll mastered the fine art of surfing as a youth, an art he refined over the years while on leave or stationed near beaches with 'gnarly' waves. Any surfing ACTIONs attempted by Rock 'n Roll are made at +1 RS. Contacts: As a member of the United States Army and the GI Joe team, Rock 'n Roll can rely on both of these organizations for aid should he need it (the Joes never leave their own for dead). This extends to the whole of the military, should they be available to at all help him. Costume: Rock 'n Roll's original field uniform includes an olive drab T shirt, olive drab trousers, an olive drab helmet, a pair of brown leather boots, and usually at least two belts of ammunition for his M60, wrapped around his chest like bandoliers. Personality: While Rock 'n Roll can be described as a loyal trooper, a real tough cookie, or one mean mother, the biggest thing a body remembers about him is his total surfer attitude. Truly in love with the wave, this man will do just about anything to go surfing on a decent beach. Of course, when he's not making loud, blaring noises with his M60 in combat or on a training course, he's often making loud, blaring noises with his electric guitars, often to the dismay of his fellow Joes - except for those that're really into metal, that is. Real Name: Craig S. McConnel, Grade E-5 (later E-7) Occupation: GI Joe heavy machine gunner Legal Status: American citizen with no known criminal record Marital Status: presumably single Alias(es), if any: none Group Affiliation: GI Joe Height: 6' 1" Hair: blonde Eyes: blue Weight: 170 lbs. Other Distinguishing Characteristics: Rock 'n Roll has a fully grown beard and moustache. Story: Born and raised in Malibu Beach, Rock 'n Roll spent most of his youth seeking great waves and playing the guitar for various heavy metal bands. He decided to enlist, however, after a chance encounter with an Army Ranger helped him realize he could do more with his life. Leaving advanced infantry school at the top of his class, Rock 'n Roll was invited to join an advanced anti-terrorist fighting force, one with a membership that welcomed operatives from all the armed forces: GI Joe! He was one of this organization's very first members. As such, Rock 'n Roll was present on that fateful mission that resulted in the extreme disfigurement of Snake-eyes, as well as many other of the group's most important operations, like the assault on Springfield, then Cobra's headquarters, and the Cobra Island civil war. Like his good buddy Clutch, Rock 'n Roll also found himself inadvertently involved in several encounters with Cobra while on leave or temporarily off the active duty roster. One such encounter involved his '56 Bel Air Nomad being crashed and burned thanks to the Dreadnoks. Another such ruined vacation involved Clutch and Rock 'n Roll's inadvertent discovery of another Cobra controlled town, the result of which saw him and his pal getting mentally reprogrammed by the insane Doctor Mindbender to destroy the GI Joe base upon their return to it. The brainwashing didn't take too well, however, and once inside the so-called Pit, both Rock 'n Roll and Clutch managed to overcome their mind control because they were both extremely stubborn - that and their usual morals were stronger than those imposed by the evil Doctor. Times change, however, and late in 1994 the GI Joe team was disbanded. During this time, Rock 'n Roll went on a sort of Zen quest for the greatest wave, touring various beaches around the world for this elusive quarry. (Historical Divergence) He never found it, though, because several years later the GI Joe team was reactivated. Anxious to see old friends and continue the fight for freedom, Rock 'n Roll returned to the team, and participated in its first battle against a renewed Cobra organization. He has since remained with the group, as it continues to battle its eternal enemy to this very day. This is because, even though Cobra was supposedly defeated with some finality after triggering World War III, there are plenty of Cobra operatives still at large - if not their Commander himself. As such, Rock 'n Roll remains with the team until their threat is ended. After all, no one else was left in a position to oppose the various Cobra remnants, what with all global power structures being so devastated. * 1989 VARIATIONS * Additional / Substitute Equipment: Miniature Gatling Cannons: for a time, Rock 'n Roll replaced his M60 with two twin, hand-held, 5.56mm, six-barreled miniature Gatling cannons, built by the fine craftsmen of General Monopolies. Each of these devastating weapons weigh 85 pounds apiece! Each of these weighty weapons can be used to inflict rank value 30 Piercing damage in short, deadly bursts, an amount of damage increased by +1 RS if fired continuously. Furthermore, Rock 'n Roll can fire both simultaneously for yet another +1 RS in damage! Shotgun: after he switched to those hand cannons, Rock 'n Roll took to carrying a spare shotgun slung on his back, 'just in case'. This stylish firearm can discharge five shots before it needs to be reloaded, each of which will inflict damage depending on what they're loaded with. When using birdshot, Rock 'n Roll can inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage to everyone within a sixty degree arc, while buckshot can inflict +1 RS Piercing damage to adjacent targets, and slugs instead cause +2 RS Piercing damage to a singular foe. Costume: Rock 'n Roll's second uniform consists of camouflage-patterned pants, a tan T shirt, and black boots and gloves, adorned with all manner of straps and belts to hold ammo, accessories, and the like. Finally, it has a tan cap with a small ammo belt wound around it. * 1991 VARIATIONS * Additional / Substitute Equipment: Sonic Cannon: this weapon generates tightly focused sound waves that inflict rank value 30 Force or Energy damage, depending on its settings. This device is energized by a large power pack mounted on Rock 'n Roll's back, and can fire ten shots before needing a recharge. Costume: Rock 'n Roll's third uniform is a recolored version of his second, consisting of brown pants, a green T shirt, and brown boots and gloves, adorned with all manner of orange straps and belts to hold various things. Finally, it has an orange cap with a small ammo belt wound around it. * 1993 VARIATIONS * Additional / Substitute Equipment: Shotgun: Rock 'n Roll often carries this weapon as a counterpart to his more advanced devices, 'just in case'. This stylish firearm can discharge five shots before it needs to be reloaded, each of which will inflict damage depending on what they're loaded with. When using birdshot, Rock 'n Roll can inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage to everyone within a sixty degree arc, while buckshot can inflict +1 RS Piercing damage to adjacent targets, and slugs instead cause +2 RS Piercing damage to a singular foe. Sonic Cannon: this weapon generates tightly focused sound waves that inflict rank value 30 Force or Energy damage, depending on its settings. This device is energized by a large power pack mounted on Rock 'n Roll's back, and can fire ten shots before needing a recharge. Star Brigade Armor: for a very short period of time, Rock 'n Roll utilized an extremely heavily armed suit of space-fitted combat armor, while serving as a heavy gunner for the GI Joe 'Star Brigade'. See the Star Brigade entry out for more on this. Costume: Rock 'n Roll's fourth costume was actually his oversized, Star Brigade space armor. This technological terror has a gray chest plate, legs, shoulder pads, elbow joints, and the rest is of a metallic blue coloration. It also has a silvery helmet with a clear visor. * 1997 VARIATIONS * Costume: When the Joe team first reformed, Rock 'n Roll took to wearing brown and black camouflage pants, black leather boots and gloves, and a green button-up vest with a green T-shirt underneath. It's not as simple as his original uniforms, but it's pretty close. * 2001 VARIATIONS * Additional / Substitute Equipment: GI Joe Headquarters: every couple of years, GI Joe designs a new prefabricated, easily assembled fortresses to be used in the field in a pinch, and 2001 was such a year. Rock 'n Roll was tapped to supervise this latest model, which is detailed in its own entry. Grenades: recently, Rock 'n Roll started carrying a trio of grenades, hooked onto his new webbing. These thrown projectiles will detonate to inflict rank value 30 Slashing damage to everybody within the sector consisting of their own, personal ground zero. Costume: When supervising the latest GI Joe prefab fortress, Rock 'n Roll's uniform consists of green trousers, a brown T-shirt, black leather boots, a gray leather belt, and gray webbing to hold various accessories - webbing which attaches to both his belt and gray shoulder pads. * 2007 VARIATIONS * Costume: Rock 'n Roll's seventh uniform is somewhat different than his previous efforts. It includes a tan leather jacket over a green and white camouflage T shirt, green and white camouflage trousers, brown leather boots, beige gloves, and green belts and equipment pouches. * 2008 VARIATIONS * Costume: Rock 'n Roll's eighth GI Joe uniform is quite like his first. It includes a green T shirt, green trousers with a black 'tiger stripe' pattern printed on, a green helmet, a green leather belt, and two spare ammunition bandoliers worn around his shoulders. * 2018 VARIATIONS * Additional / Substitute Equipment: Miniature Gatling Cannons: for a time, Rock 'n Roll replaced his M60 with two twin, hand-held, 5.56mm, six-barreled miniature Gatling cannons, built by the fine craftsmen of General Monopolies. Each of these devastating weapons weigh 85 pounds apiece! Each of these weighty weapons can be used to inflict rank value 30 Piercing damage in short, deadly bursts, an amount of damage increased by +1 RS if fired continuously. Furthermore, Rock 'n Roll can fire both simultaneously for yet another +1 RS in damage! Shotgun: after he switched to those hand cannons, Rock 'n Roll took to carrying a spare shotgun slung on his back, 'just in case'. This stylish firearm can discharge five shots before it needs to be reloaded, each of which will inflict damage depending on what they're loaded with. When using birdshot, Rock 'n Roll can inflict rank value 6 Piercing damage to everyone within a sixty degree arc, while buckshot can inflict +1 RS Piercing damage to adjacent targets, and slugs instead cause +2 RS Piercing damage to a singular foe. Costume: Rock 'n Roll's ninth uniform is a variation on his second, featuring green and brown camouflage trousers, a tan T-shirt, and brown boots, gloves, and knee pads, brown web gear, and various brown or green gear pouches. Finally, it has a tan cap with small brown belt wound around it.