Rick Owen

Reliability: I worked 10 years straight on 3rd shift, at a convenience store. I never called out, I always showed up on time, and I never missed a shift. And I did over-time whenever asked. And I always aimed for what I call “exceptional adequacy.” Not excellence--because some nights didn't allow that, and I had to pace myself to be at the top of my game for the morning rush. Thus, my goal was making the manager confident that the store would at least meet his expectations.

Honesty: I have perhaps the worst poker face in the world, and a nagging conscience, and a motto that goes “if the truth breaks my heart, then my heart needs to be broken.” Along with that comes humility, openness, and respecting other people's property. And even a simple “How are you,” will prompt me to smile, and laugh, and admit, “Well, I think I'm doing OK.” Because sometimes, everything only seems to be going well.

Intelligence: A disciplined systems thinker with an innate, lifelong talent for conceptual organization and process optimization. I specialize in identifying the underlying logic of complex environments—from inventory hierarchies to workflow efficiencies—and translating them into clear, structured frameworks. With a background that spans the rigors of library science to the high-stakes autonomy of overnight retail management, I bring a unique "first-principles" and “purpose-oriented” approach to problem-solving. I don’t just follow processes; I analyze, map, and refine them to ensure maximum clarity and operational flow.

Creativity: (this is why it's dangerous to ask me what my hobbies are) I'm adept at High-Constraint Problem Solving: I thrive within rigid operational or narrative frameworks, utilizing systemic limitations to drive innovative, logically consistent solutions. Further, I'm an expert in the design and implementation of high-complexity, multi-threaded narrative systems. Specializing in Stochastic Plot Management, I utilize structural frameworks to balance primary story arcs with cascading sub-plots and world-building "meanwhiles." With a foundational mastery of serialized storytelling—influenced by the editorial rigors of the Bronze Age of Comics (Shooter/Levitz) and classical Aristotelian teleology—I excel at creating "Living Ecosystems." Whether through manual systems or digital game design, I ensure narrative consistency, mechanical pacing, and emotional payoff across expansive rosters and long-form campaigns.