Success, Prompts, Resources: An Arbitrary Way of Categorizing TTRPGS

Posted on May 7, 2026 That I actually think is pretty useful! This also may just secretly be a post where I think about Blades in the Dark, since I’ve been playing a lot of that. Be warned! Imagine a Venn diagram (imagine that I will later actually draw this), each circle is a thing the game is concerned with: Using chance (rolling dice, etc.) to determine if an action succeeds or fails Responding to prompts Resource management Future-Brendan here, I did draw it! Here it is! Venn diagram of success, prompts, and resources Examples 1 only: Lasers & Feelings (and many other ultra light games) 2 only: For the Queen 3 only: Maybe Nobilis? Maybe someone who has actually played Nobilis can confirm? 1 & 2: Is there a PbtA game with no HP/conditions/resources? Do the conditions in Pasion de las Pasiones count as resource management? Is there a prompts-on-cards game with a success/failure mechanic? 1 & 3: D&D and friends (from 5E to Into the Odd), but also Blades in the Dark for example. 2 &…