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<blockquote data-quote="iserith" data-source="post: 8047110" data-attributes="member: 97077"><p>The key distinction is that there are ability checks of which passive checks are a subset. "Passive" also means there is no rolling, not that the characters are not active. Passive checks come into play generally when the characters are performing a task repeatedly over time (e.g. keeping watch for danger while traveling which is what the characters in your example are doing) or when the DM wants there to be a secret check for some reason. Thus there are no "active checks" in D&D 5e. A player can choose to take the Search action when in combat, but this may or may not come with an ability check, as determined by the DM.</p><p></p><p>As for your bolded part, it's important to remember that a check is not an action, nor an action a check. These things are separate and distinct. An action is a task that the character performs in the setting; a check is a mechanic outside the context of the setting which is used by the DM to determine the result of the adventurer's task when that task has an uncertain outcome and a meaningful consequence for failure.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="iserith, post: 8047110, member: 97077"] The key distinction is that there are ability checks of which passive checks are a subset. "Passive" also means there is no rolling, not that the characters are not active. Passive checks come into play generally when the characters are performing a task repeatedly over time (e.g. keeping watch for danger while traveling which is what the characters in your example are doing) or when the DM wants there to be a secret check for some reason. Thus there are no "active checks" in D&D 5e. A player can choose to take the Search action when in combat, but this may or may not come with an ability check, as determined by the DM. As for your bolded part, it's important to remember that a check is not an action, nor an action a check. These things are separate and distinct. An action is a task that the character performs in the setting; a check is a mechanic outside the context of the setting which is used by the DM to determine the result of the adventurer's task when that task has an uncertain outcome and a meaningful consequence for failure. [/QUOTE]
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