Pool - Games

In game design, 'pool' refers to a shared resource system that governs mechanics from mana reserves to loot tables. It creates strategic tension through scarcity management, forcing players to make calculated decisions about resource allocation. The pool mechanic often serves as a balancing tool, preventing skill spamming in RPGs or controlling unit deployment in strategy games. Symbolically, it represents limited agency—players must work within defined constraints to achieve objectives. From card games with shared draw piles to survival games with depleting stamina bars, the pool concept fundamentally shapes player engagement through structured limitation and risk-reward dynamics.