
seekerofshadowlight |

Okay, just I'm on the same page, when you say points, you mean ranks. And when you say alpha, you mean trained. Right?
If so, I'm open to either. I like training because it's cleaner. But that said, I like ranks, because I like building jacks of all trades.
when I say points yes I mean 3.5 skill system.when I say alpha I mean the pathfinder alpha skill system. wasn't as clear as I thought I was being.

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Please keep skill points, because...
- Virtually all my PCs would be impossible to create under the new system,
- the 3.5 system allows players to max skills if they want,
Alpha reduces the options available,
- all players in Alpha will cherry-pick one level of rogue,
- the 'skill points/level' is actually a major element of a class write-up, which under Alpha, would be meaningless for any class taken after level 1,
- not all skills need to be maxed; they have an optimum number of ranks to achieve a certain DC, and that's all one should be forced to spend,
- in Alpha, a PC goes from unskilled to Master, making it a throwback to 1st/2nd Edition NWPs,
- it requires re-calculating NPCs in published adventures.
There's more, but that's good for starters.

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Since I can do the Alpha thing using Skill Ranks (by just picking X skills to max out and skipping the math), but can't do Skill Ranks using Alpha, it's basically just a vote to stop people from using Skill Ranks or to allow them to have either option.
I vote for allowing both options, which means Skill Ranks.

The Dalesman |

Hmmm...
Black-or-White Answer: Skill Points please
Shades-of-Gray Answer: Skill Points for players, Alpha for DMs to 'quickgen' minor NPCs/monsters (but keep Skill Points for major NPCs)
Like others have posted, though, I also like Epic Meepo's 'tweak'.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Dalesman
"Bringing Big D**n Justice to the Bad Guys Since 1369 DR"

Alcore |

Keep 3.5 Skills with some tweaks ("Meepo them!")
In addition to all the other good reasons, there's the crass one:
Alpha's Skills are too much like 4e's and not particularly compatible with 3.5. (The people who say it works like 3.5 with all skills kept maxed out can't do math... Perhaps that's why they like Alpha/4e?)
Since all the people who *like* 4e will mostly not play Pathfinder (once 4e is out and established) Pathfinder should make greater effort to please the people 4e is leaving behind.
Gene P.

seekerofshadowlight |

Keep 3.5 Skills with some tweaks ("Meepo them!")
In addition to all the other good reasons, there's the crass one:
Alpha's Skills are too much like 4e's and not particularly compatible with 3.5. (The people who say it works like 3.5 with all skills kept maxed out can't do math... Perhaps that's why they like Alpha/4e?)
Since all the people who *like* 4e will mostly not play Pathfinder (once 4e is out and established) Pathfinder should make greater effort to please the people 4e is leaving behind.
Gene P.
[rises hand] not going to 4e and like the new skills.
I would also ask people to stay civil and leave edition bashing out please
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pres man |

and this one. just goes to show about half or a little over liked the change.
Of those responding to your various polls. One thing to consider, is that given that this is in the Alpha skill section of the message boards, would individuals that were turned off by the Alpha skills be more or less willing to spend time on the boards talking about the Alpha skills? Bias is why doing surveys in this format are going to be "unscientific".