Assisted checks

[yobgorgle]

Sorry if this is in the rules somewhere and I missed it but:

If two (or more) characters work together on, say, a strength check, is there a standard way to handle this? You could of course roll each characters' checks independently. But that doesn't seem right: if five people of average strength try to lift a 200 lb boulder together, they might actually succeed, but one of them alone never would.

[Ravenheart87]

I add all bonuses, count penalties as zero.

[GnomeBoy]

My take is that it all depends on what's being attempted.

Lifting that rock, I might just say five folks with at least a ten Strength can lift it. Done.

Busting down a door, well, the main person might make a Strength check -- but the "assistant" might need to make an Agility check to help, because that door is in a narrow alcove, and the more important issue is "can you even squeeze in and help in any effective way?".

The circumstances effect how it's resolved.

But the baseline method could be anything from d20 standard rules to whatever you prefer at your table.