That’s probably the fastest way to summarize Patrick Perini. A more nuanced breakdown would lead to a ridiculous monicker like writer–composer–game-master–actor–director–producer–organizer–game-designer–and–former-technologist. Storyteller is easier.
And it provides a nice through-line for a journey with almost as many hyphens as that ridiculous monicker. Patrick grew up in the storycraft of the stage, learning acting, improv, stage management, and technical skills. Thrust into adulthood, he cut his teeth on video game and tech companies where he learned how to recruit amazing teams and build impactful projects from nothing. (As it happens, you do both by telling great stories.) And through struggles with chronic illness, he learned how to harness patience, advocacy, and empathy. As Miyazaki says, one cannot tell good stories without understanding pain.
All the skills Patrick has picked up along the way have culminated in a multi-faceted career of experimentation, narrative, and play. At the moment, he’s contributing to several works-in-progress ranging from a weird west TTRPG setting book to an epic, low-fantasy audio drama. He also occasionally fiddles with design for his wife’s game studio.
He’s an Appalachian in body, a San Franciscan in soul, and so resides in Portland, Oregon. His current primary project is Unbalanced Encounters, a multi-award-nominated narrative play podcast.
<aside> <img src="/icons/music-artist_lightgray.svg" alt="/icons/music-artist_lightgray.svg" width="40px" /> Patrick will be speaking at BigBadCon Oct 2024.
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On the edge of a primordial forest, a remote logging village is on the brink of collapse. And these four idiots probably won't be able to save it.
Rally is the first season of Unbalanced Encounters, and follows the misadventures of Emily Greymoore, Sam Oliver, Craig Pate, and Cinderblocksally as their D&D characters try to save the forest, their home, and the world. The show uses TTRPGs to tell heartfelt, twangy stories. Each session is highly edited into a well-paced, cinematic episode.
Patrick has been GM for all five arcs of the main Rally campaign, as well as the Old Folks Tome, Odder Sea, and Small Gods Scatter bonus arcs. He also plays Reevesy Hopperswallop in the Hateful Fate bonus arc, which was probably the most fun.
In an ancient ruin, tragedy strikes and six survivors embark on a desperate flight into a far-flung wilderness. As they search for their vanished leader, conspiracy grows. In The Long Rest, unlikely allies face a mounting challenge: keep their true natures hidden long enough to discover their betrayer.
The Long Rest is a forthcoming audio drama, scene directed and co-written by Patrick. It features an ensemble cast which includes Emily Greymoore, Cody James King, and Dallas Goldtooth (Reservation Dogs, Fallout).
The Kickstarter prelaunch is available now.
Patrick is fairly easy to get ahold of at pcperini @ gmail dot com. He’s also very active on Discord @pcperini, and somewhat active on Bluesky @pcperini.com.