An old gamebook series that did lots of this is Steve Jackson's Sorcery! -- I wonder if that could be what you're thinking of? More recently, Jason Shiga has u

An old gamebook series that did lots of this is Steve Jackson's Sorcery! -- I wonder if that could be what you're thinking of? More recently, Jason Shiga has used clever mechanics like this a lot in comic book form, notably in Meanwhile. He's just finished a three-part series aimed at younger readers, Adventuregame Comics. All Shiga's stuff is great, highly recommended.