The section on Skill Challenge group skill checks in the DMG mentions that a group skill check should be used when every PC must perform a given action, such as climbing a wall. I had concluded from this that if the PCs were chasing someone, then whenever someone decided to just use Athletics to run really fast, the other PCs would help this PC (the lead runner), and the group would move together as a whole.
But in his blog post on Skill Challenges from last week (http://gloomforge.livejournal.com/12135.html), Keith Baker explicitly used this example as one where he would make each PC roll individually (in the Aid Another paragraph).
So, how would you run it?
1. PC rolls alone. Success = Moves ahead of the other PCs. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.
2. PC rolls alone. Success = Moves ahead of the other PCs. PCs only get a success when they've all moved ahead.
3. PC rolls alone. Success = All PCs move ahead. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.
4. PC rolls, but other PCs can help. Success = All PCs move ahead. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.
But in his blog post on Skill Challenges from last week (http://gloomforge.livejournal.com/12135.html), Keith Baker explicitly used this example as one where he would make each PC roll individually (in the Aid Another paragraph).
So, how would you run it?
1. PC rolls alone. Success = Moves ahead of the other PCs. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.
2. PC rolls alone. Success = Moves ahead of the other PCs. PCs only get a success when they've all moved ahead.
3. PC rolls alone. Success = All PCs move ahead. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.
4. PC rolls, but other PCs can help. Success = All PCs move ahead. PCs get 1 success for the challenge.