How to do this skill check?

[killem2]

I have a castle that is long since closed down, but there is a 20ft wide, 60ft tall iron door that is slightly ajar by 1/2 ft. It is stuck by a network of gears and chains inside the door that used to be used from the inside to open it.

There is 5 party members, two clerics with str scores of 10 and 11, (they are almost dead from age at this point). And two fighters who are very strong miniotaur (dragon lance) and centuar.

How would you do the strength check for this to open it?

[Jeraa]

The strongest character that is trying to open the door makes a strength check. Every additional character that is helping makes a DC 10 strength check, and if they succeed add a +2 bonus to the strongest characters check.

Its an Aid Another (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/usingSkills.htm#aidAnother) situation.

[Kuulvheysoon]

Jeraa's in the right.

Since centaurs are at least ECL6, your clerics can cast 3rd level spells. Why aren't they using shape stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneShape.htm) to carve their own door?

[killem2]

Jeraa's in the right.

Since centaurs are at least ECL6, your clerics can cast 3rd level spells. Why aren't they using shape stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneShape.htm) to carve their own door?

They might :), but I cannot always plan on my players using spells for everything.

[ericgrau]

I'll add that the aiding characters must also be able to fit around the door to help. How many that is is at the DM's discretion. A long thick pole or other device may allow more characters to aid, besides any circumstances bonus. The players may retry as many times as they like, time permitting. Or take 2 minutes to take a 20.


Jeraa's in the right.

Since centaurs are at least ECL6, your clerics can cast 3rd level spells. Why aren't they using shape stone (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/stoneShape.htm) to carve their own door?
Do you honestly think he set aside his best spell for stone shape this morning? Now if they have 9 hours to rest and keep watch, then sure. But even then pulling it for 2 minutes or so is faster.

[Trasilor]

I had a similar situation in my game. Instead of STR check, I figured out how much the actual door weighed. Then it was easy, 3 players can effectively move the object, how much can they lift off the ground? I only use this out of combat (eliminates the inherent variability of the d20).

In combat, I use the STR check to emulate the chaos/adrenaline of combat.