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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hriston" data-source="post: 7164142" data-attributes="member: 6787503">Ah, so you find my definition of Exploration as basically synonymous with role-playing and encompassing the other two pillars to be circular. I think the problem we're having (and why the rulebooks seem somewhat ambiguous on the subject as well) is there seem to be two interrelated but distinct aspects of the game that we and the PHB are referring to as Exploration. I'll differentiate them below as Exploration (with a capital E) and the exploration pillar. I think the relationship breaks down like this:Exploration, aka GNS Exploration/Role-playing/the "basic pattern" (or cycle if you will) of gameplay. This is something that happens between the game-participants at the table and, in D&D, takes place in the following steps:1. The DM describes the environment (including setting, situation, color, and NPCs). 2. The players describe the activities in which their PCs engage in response to the environment. These activities fall into three categories, called "pillars", which are:a. The "social interaction pillar", in which the PCs interact with the environment by having conversations with NPCs.b. The "combat pillar", in which the PCs interact with the environment by engaging in armed conflicts with NPCs. c. The "exploration pillar", in which the PCs interact with the environment in any way that isn't one of the aforementioned two pillars. 3. The DM narrates the results of the PCs' activities (system) and describes any resulting changes to the environment by returning to step 1.</blockquote>

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