---
key: lens/schell-031
type: lens
id: schell-031
lang: en
title: Action
summary: Distinguish available commands from the strategies they enable.
updatedAt: '2026-10-10'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-031/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lens/schell-031.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lens/schell-031.md'
aliases:
  - Action
  - '31'
tags:
  - Rules and systems
sourceIds:
  - source-a5287443699910bb
  - source-f546a7168effffbb
sources:
  - id: source-a5287443699910bb
    title: 'Schell: 113 second-edition lenses'
    url: 'https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-f546a7168effffbb
    title: Action
    url: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations:
  - type: reviews
    direction: incoming
    label: Apply this lens
    key: lesson/npc-action-selection
    title: How an NPC selects an action
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-action-selection/'
    jsonUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-action-selection.json
    markdownUrl: >-
      https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lesson/npc-action-selection.md
  - type: reviews
    direction: incoming
    label: Apply this lens
    key: path/npc-behavior
    title: NPC behavior
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/learn/npc-behavior/'
    jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/path/npc-behavior.json'
    markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/path/npc-behavior.md'
placements:
  - title: In the original collection
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lenses/#schell-031'
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  number: '31'
  theme: rules
  author: Jesse Schell
  originalTitle: Action
  referenceUrl: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the
  user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External
  concepts and source material retain their rights.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
---
# Action

id: schell-031
type: lens
key: lens/schell-031
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-031/

Distinguish available commands from the strategies they enable.

## Principle

Distinguish available commands from the strategies they enable.

## Review questions

- What can the player do, and what decisions emerge from combining actions?
- Which action is rarely used, and why is it still needed?

## Attribution and limits

Jesse Schell · Schell: 113 second-edition lenses

The concise explanations and review questions are original gamemechanics.pro wording. This is an independent reference, not a translation of the cards or a substitute for the book. Names, concepts and external material remain their authors’ work.

## Connected materials

- Apply this lens: [How an NPC selects an action](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lessons/npc-action-selection/) (key: lesson/npc-action-selection)
- Apply this lens: [NPC behavior](https://gamemechanics.pro/en/learn/npc-behavior/) (key: path/npc-behavior)

## Sources and provenance

Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External concepts and source material retain their rights.

- [Schell: 113 second-edition lenses](https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design) (id: source-a5287443699910bb)
- [Action](https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/) (id: source-f546a7168effffbb)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors