So i've been down the TTRPG rabbit hole and been pouring over numerous systems. Some more rules lite others simulationist. And an interesting design choice I noticed a rules light system such as Monsters of the Week (Pbta) and a crunchy system such as Mythras (Casting the Runes) shared. Monsters of the Week, which from here on shall be referred to as MoW for brevity. Follows GUMSHOES RPG philosophy of how to run mysteries and investigation. I say follows GUMSHOES philosophy because it was released before MoW. While Mythras just uses the system within their setting.

For those who don't know GUMSHOE more or less proposes that the PC's always gets the clues. They can never fail getting them as that stops the narrative. Instead they roll in MoW case or spend points/resources in GUMSHOE fashion. To determine how much more they can get out of a clue. Again I should point out that although PC's roll in MoW and a nat 1 is possible. Such a result does not mean they do not get the clue. Rather it adds complications to the narrative.

Of course their are some mechanical differences between MoW and GUMSHOE but overall down to brass tacs. Both systems maintain that failing to get clues is not really part of the game. And that it requires resources players have to obtain more crucial information from the clues they are given. I believe that such an approach can be easily transferred to most other systems. Especially the ever popular 5e. Where mysteries tend to grind the game to a halt.

Thoughts?

Edit: Basically GUMSHOE and MoW use fail forward approaches for mystery rp.