Extended contests -multiple players/single foe

From: atomikdog2001 <atomikdog2001_at_...>
Date: Tue, 09 Jul 2002 00:20:47 -0000

My question is based in combat but it could apply to any situation. Lets say we have three players facing off against a single powerful foe. Whats the best way to handle this in an extended contest allowing all 3 players to act independently? The obvious is to keep individual AP totals for all 4 combatants, but is it the best way?