**Previous Chapter: [[1e. Minigames]]** <hr> As discussed in [[1e. Minigames]], nearly all TTRPG stories can be reduced to a small set of recurring minigames—repeating subgames with consistent rules. However, even minigames can be subdivided into smaller games. For example, consider the following Fight minigame: > The archer crept up toward the troll, then fired an arrow from behind. The troll whirled—then collapsed as two more arrows struck its greasy hide. While playing this Fight minigame, the archer chose to play a smaller Sneak minigame in order to gain an advantage—the benefit of surprise. We call this minigame-within-a-minigame a **nested minigame**. There are five kinds of nested minigames: * **Progress Game.** A character is trying to move themselves closer to winning the stakes (e.g., decreasing an enemy's health in a Fight minigame). * **Boon Game.** A character is trying to increase their velocity toward the stakes (e.g., gaining an offensive buff in a Fight minigame). * **Safety Game.** A character is trying to move an adversary further away from winning the stakes (e.g., restoring their own health in a Fight minigame). * **Bane Game.** A character is trying to decrease an adversary's velocity toward the stakes (e.g., imposing an offensive debuff in a Fight minigame). * **Omen Game.** A character is trying to stop a new character from entering the story (e.g., preventing reinforcements from arriving in a Fight minigame). <hr> **Next Chapter: [[1g. Microgames]]**