The "verb-noun-constraint" template — a 3-word prompt pattern that 2x'd my hit rate

Every prompt I write now follows the same template:

`[VERB] [NOUN] in [CONSTRAINT]`

Examples that worked first try: • "Pop balloons in 10 seconds" • "Stack stones without falling" • "Match colors before time runs out"

Compared to free-form prompts ("make a casual reaction game with cool effects"), my first-try hit rate jumped from ~40% to ~85%. The constraint is doing the heavy lifting — it forces the AI to pick concrete mechanics instead of vibes.

When this fails: when the verb is too abstract. "Survive monsters in a dungeon" is technically the template, but "monsters" and "dungeon" need 5 follow-up prompts to nail down. Stick to verbs the AI can interpret as a single button press (tap, swipe, hold).

Try it. Reply with prompts you ran through this template and how they turned out.