A multitude of questions.

[Kzach]

A few rules questions popped up during a solo session I ran for a friend and rather than make a bunch of separate threads, I figured I'd bunch 'em up into one. So, here goes:

Divine Challenge: whose damage first?

If a mob has divine challenge on them but choose to attack someone else anyway, do they resolve their attack before taking the divine challenge damage or after?

What actions are skills or ability checks?

There was a situation that called for an ability check and a skill check and I couldn't find any information regarding what actions these take up. I adjudicated that the athletics check to climb out of the pit was a move action, and the ability check to break free of the sludge was a standard action but was I being unfair?

Cover from allies?

It says allies never provide cover... against each other, but doesn't mention anything about whether or not they provide cover against enemy attacks.

 

[The Little Raven]

Divine Challenge: whose damage first?

If a mob has divine challenge on them but choose to attack someone else anyway, do they resolve their attack before taking the divine challenge damage or after?

I'd say after, personally. It just feels better that the attack went through before the god's divine retribution strikes the foe.

What actions are skills or ability checks?

There was a situation that called for an ability check and a skill check and I couldn't find any information regarding what actions these take up. I adjudicated that the athletics check to climb out of the pit was a move action, and the ability check to break free of the sludge was a standard action but was I being unfair?

It depends on the check, and the action involved. For example, jumping and climbing are done as a part of a move action, and many climbing surfaces specify how many squares of movement they consume.

A little more detail on the sludge might help... was it a monster/hazard doing a Grab check to hold on to the player, or was it simply a spot of difficult terrain (double movement cost), or just something that required a skill/ability check to break free?

Cover from allies?

It says allies never provide cover... against each other, but doesn't mention anything about whether or not they provide cover against enemy attacks.

According to RAW, your enemies grant cover to eachother (and you and your allies grant cover to enemy attacks).