ASMP’s games include: Most ASMP games share in common the PDQ (Prose Descriptive Qualities) system, a rules-light game engine that has three different levels of task resolution for any situation, in order to let players resolve encounters in as much or as little detail as desired.
The mechanism is to generate a random number or roll, add a freeform stat or set of stats, and compare to a difficulty number—either a fixed difficulty number or the opponent's roll.
Stats are rated in five named ranks: Poor [-2], Average [+0], Good [+2], Expert [+4], and Master [+6].
Each point of either type means that the loser must choose a stat to downgrade by one rank.
They can choose any stat to take damage in, such as downgrading a non-combat quality like "Accounting" based on a hit in a fight.