Let's talk Procedure of Play

[Umbran]

I, personally, have always preferred "process of play" over "procedure of play"

A process is a series of steps you do to get to a conclusion or resolution.

Mechanics are among the steps you use during the process.

Communication is a tool used during the process, but it is not itself the process.

So, for D&D, the process of play for a generic non-combat action might be:

• Player declares an action they want their PC to take.
• GM decides if there is any risk of failure, or consequences to failure.
• If there are no risks/consequences,
  • GM narrates success.
• If there are risks/consequences:
  • GM chooses what attribute or skill roll is appropriate, and target number/modifiers.
  • Player rolls attribute skill/check, PC and GM modifiers are applied, result is compared to TN
  • Result (success or failure) is narrated by GM.

Repeat as necessary.

 

[Willie the Duck]

I, personally, have always preferred "process of play" over "procedure of play"
A process is a series of steps you do to get to a conclusion or resolution.
Mechanics are among the steps you use during the process.
Communication is a tool used during the process, but it is not itself the process.
So, for D&D, the process of play for a generic non-combat action might be:
{example}

Because it is widely familiar, let's take the iconic TSR-era dungeon exploration, er, 'play loop.'

Y'know, 'DM describes, players discuss and choose course of action (with caller officially calling it in), then DM adjudicates and describes again.' That's it at its simplest (perhaps reduced-to-base-principle form), but you can also describe it with more specific steps. Steps include time & resource tracking; searching (either mechanics or say-what-you-do); mapping; wandering monster checks; if door or trap, resolution checks; if monsters, reaction table check; if combat, morale checks; then within-combat the specifics of the combat system; treasure-finding; and then moving on (possibly to repeat, possibly exit dungeon).

Is my simplest version the process/procedure, or just is it a description and the more steps-included version the process/procedure? I think things like the actual specific initiative or moral or trap-finding rules are clearly rules. What each one is, descriptively, clearly steps (or would the game's morale system, in isolation, be a process of play?). But what level, in your mind, is the process or procedure?