Multiple characters lifting heavy objects?

[jreyst]

To all DM's out there...

If you had someone (a creature, player, or monster) making an ability check, and other creatures (or players or monsters etc) wanted to help that someone perform that ability check would you use the standard "Aid Another" rules as applicable to ability checks?

"AID ANOTHER FOR ABILITY CHECKS
You can help an ally achieve success on an ability check
by using aid another, taking the same amount of time that
the ability check normally requires. To do so, you make the
same kind of ability check, simulating a cooperative effort.
You must roll for the check—you can't take 10 or 20. If the
result of your check is 10 or higher, the ally you're helping
receives a +2 bonus on the ability check. You're essentially
providing favorable conditions."

For example, if Player A wants to lift an extremely heavy block of stone. Players B, C, and D, want to aid him. Would you have Player A make a Strength check, and then have Players B-D make "Aid Another" checks to see if they are able to provide lifting assistance, OR, would you simply have all players combine their Strengths, and use that number for determining how much they can lift?

If yes, why? and if not, why?

As I see it it comes down to one of two real options:

1) Use standard "Aid Another for Ability Checks" rules for determining how much they can lift.

-OR-

2) All players/creatures combine their Strengths, and use that number for determining how much they can lift. In other words, PC #1 has a 13 Strength, PC #2 has a 14 Str, PC #3 has a 16 Str. Add what each of those PC's can lift together to get a total lifting capacity of 550 pounds.

I am leaning towards using standard Aid Another rules for this but want to see if anyone has a strong argument the other way before I make a ruling for my campaign.

 

[Shin Okada]

Lifting rule is not suggesting to use a strength check from the beginning.

From SRD,

Lifting and Dragging: A character can lift as much as his or her maximum load over his or her head.
A character can lift as much as double his or her maximum load off the ground, but he or she can only stagger around with it. While overloaded in this way, the character loses any Dexterity bonus to AC and can move only 5 feet per round (as a full-round action).

When multiple characters are trying to lift something, why don't you just add up carrying capacities of those characters?

 

[irdeggman]

A lot of modules call for a Str check to lift something. I have used the Aid Another rules. That is what they are designed for especially for a Str Check to open or lift something - it is pretty clear to visualize how that works.

I generally point out to my players that the check should be made by the one most likely to succeed in the first place with the others doing the aiding.

I have also told them that I only want one check made for a lot of things. I tend to get a lot of "I want to try this too". This takes up huge amounts of time and diminishs the effort that one player has put into designing his character to be good at something.

As Shin is trying to point out (at least I think that is what he is pointing out) - that carrying capacity is different than ability checks. It makes sense to combine carrying capacity (or at least add in fractions to increase the total) but that is not the same as making an ability check to open or lift something.

 

[Kask]

Lifting is simple. How much does it weigh? How many characters can fully grip it at once? Total their lifting capacities. Done. No rolls really needed.

 

[frankthedm]

Hold on, lets clarify what this this topic is about. A Strength check DC to lift something is a different situation than lifting a predetermined weight.

The DC Strength check DC is what Aid another is used for.

 

[irdeggman]

Hold on, lets clarify what this this topic is about. A Strength check DC to lift something is a different situation than lifting a predetermined weight.

The DC Strength check DC is what Aid another is used for.

Yup,

Isn't that what I said (pretty much) above?

http://www.enworld.org/forum/4666724-post3.html

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

When I have multiple characters all performing the same task at the same time against the same DC, they ALL roll at the same time.

I take the best score from any one person, and then I add +2 for each person who achieved at least DC10.