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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Charlaquin" data-source="post: 7939078" data-attributes="member: 6779196">Sort of. The second text starts with player-facing description (“Between encounters, your characters explore the world...”) then shifts to DM-facing description, starting from “Follow these steps to run the game in exploration mode,” and then returns to player-facing from “The Dungeon Master decides whether or not something you try actually works” on. This is a bit strange to me because it’s from the 4e DMG, so I would expect the whole thing to be DM-facing, since it’s not a book players are really expected to read.In contrast, the first text is largely neutral, describing play from the perspective of an impartial observer, rather than directly addressing the players or the DM. This is also an interesting choice since it is from the 5e basic rules, and nearly-identical text is also found in the PHB. Both documents that are primarily for the players, but are expected to be red by both players and DMs.One major difference that stands out to me:This suggests that it is the nature of the action that determines whether or not a check is required - picking the lock on a chest is an action that inherently requires a Thievery check, while moving a lever inherently does not.In contrast, the other passage says:If circumstances make the action challenging, the DM determines what happens, often relying on the roll of a die to determine the results. This suggests to me that picking a lock might or might not require a check and it is the DM that determines whether or not a check is required, not the nature of the action. Further reinforcing this contrast is this bit from the 4e passage:So, in my assessment, 4e and 5e follow the same basic play loop of:1. DM describes environment2. Players declare actions3. DM determines results4. RepeatBut, there is a subtle distinction in how step 3 gets resolved. In 4e, the DM determines what kind of check, if any, is needed, sets the difficulty, and interprets the results. In 5e, the DM determines the results themselves, calling for a check if necessary to help make that determination.</blockquote>

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