Interesting. Thanks for the article. I am teaching a mechanics class now and we are doing a similar process of looking at atomic mechanics and how to compose them into compound mechanics and more complex game systems. We add in the concept of resources and how they are used to link mechanical systems. Also what you are calling patterns seems close to a atomic mechanics based version of the Game Makers Toolkit's Puzzle Matrix. For reference I have a book on game design patterns that is based in the original work of Christopher Alexander and provides a more robust conception of Design Patterns and a Pattern Language: https://perspectivesingamedesign.com/patternlanguageforgamedesign/home