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Message: <blockquote data-quote="epithet" data-source="post: 7761585" data-attributes="member: 6796566">Well, that's clearly not the case. If the Orc on the other side of the door is trying to push it open and the paladin is opposing that strength check, at the very least the ranger can use the help action to participate. It's not difficult to imagine that same paladin and ranger teaming up to push a hill giant over a cliff: "Let the warlock hex his strength, then you take the left leg and I'll take the right leg." A contest happens whenever an ability check is opposed. It's ultimately flexible.If you want an example of an ability contest that's more like initiative than, for example, a grapple check, consider the following: the party makes an uneasy alliance with a hobgoblin to overcome the threat of the drow slavers who have captured them all. The group manages to overwhelm the drow that has the key to the prison, but that drow throws the key to an accomplice on the other side of the room. The pass is incomplete, and there is a scrum to see who comes up with the key among the drow accomplice, the hobgoblin who will betray you if he can, and your party rogue. All three make an ability check, with the high score getting the key in hand. Now, Max loves initiative, so for the sake of argument we'll say that it was obvious to everyone a round ago that the first drow intended to throw the key to his accomplice, and the accomplice, the hobgoblin, and the rogue all readied actions to catch or intercept it, and we're on the first drow's turn when the key is thrown. These ability checks are all reactions, all simultaneous. It's a three-way ability contest.Bam.</blockquote>

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