Roleplaying

Having played or run roleplaying games (RPGs) since high school, Patrick draws great enjoyment and creativity from the artistically involved hobby. While having been introduced to RPGs through Dungeons & Dragons like so many others, Patrick is drawn to sci-fi RPG settings such as Star Wars, suspense/horror settings like World of Darkness, and settings holding a mixture of both genres such as Alien.

While rules are important in arbitrating the pacing and gameplay in RPGs, Patrick elects to use a play style that plays “fast and loose” with any RPGs’ rules. If a player gets within one hit point of downing a Goblin or Stormtrooper, he lets the player have the win, electing to lean away from following any detailed technicalities found in the rules thoroughly. He believes combat in RPGs should feel epic and cinematic, not tedious and overly mathematical.

Additionally, Patrick enjoys crafting and taking part in RPGs that focus and play into the dramatics of the game. There will always be board games and puzzles for those who wish to win through strategy and deep understanding of the rules. What makes RPGs so wonderfully different is how players can immerse themselves in their characters, allowing everyone playing to collectively co-create the drama as it unfolds.

Currently, Patrick is not a Game Master for hire. Yet he’s happy to sit down and talk shop with anyone, from those looking to get started to experienced players willing to share their trade secrets. He will also be writing about his experiences in making and playing RPGs on his blog.

Board Gaming

Patrick’s love of board games comes from his mother, who was always finding and treating his family to new games to play. Since those early days, Patrick has never stopped playing board games, constantly diving deeper into the hobby. While some people have preferences on the types of games they play, Patrick enjoys nearly all kinds when theme and design come together to create a seamless and engaging experience.

Recently, Patrick has been experimenting with creating his own board and card games. While his first couple of attempts were a bit more complicated than he liked, Patrick is slowly working towards playable prototypes. He hopes to start sharing his games with players in the near future.