Passive or Activated Skills?

Here's something I want to know: in an RPG, or a game with RPG elements, do you prefer upgrades that give you a passive boost (extra health, increase to damage, quicker attacks etc) or do you prefer skills that have to be activated, like a new attack or spell.
Personally, I tend towards passive boosts. I find them more convenient because they're permanent and you don't need to worry about when to active them.

I go for passives too, Its too inconsistent and annoying using specific skills at the right times. I'd rather boost stats and pwn everything without having to always rely on a specific skill for the times you may not have them. In my opinion Phys ATK > SPD > HP > DEF > M.DEF > MANA, I try to build RPG classes on this bases.

I like the way you think! What about health regeneration, how high do you rank that (if a game has it) I tend to focus on high Attack and high regen, if I can.

Kinda depends on what other skills options there are. If there is anything that boosts evasive ability, I go for that first. Whats the point of slowly regaining health when you don't have to lose it in the first place? Anything that speeds up attacks, item usage, slows down cast times, I'd go for that first.

*Edit* Also I hate being a mage in an RPG when the spells take forever to use unless you can change the option to cut the animation sequence. I'm really impatient. For example in something like FF10 I'd disable the summoning sequences for the Aeons.

It depends. Passives are nice, but activated skills are also nice.

I think should depend on what game your playing, majority passive skill is the way to go, but some games have OP active skill as well

Depends on the game. Sometimes +1 in one stat area means little to earning a new more powerful move or spell.

Depends on what kind of rpg game you're playing

In mmo's I lean towards passives, because you're already gonna have a ton of skills and items on hotkey anyways

In standard rpgs like Dragon Quest or Earthbound I lean towards actives cause more ways to beat monsters no? Also taking advantage of enemy weaknesses is always good

I like active skills. Extra stats are nice and all but they're just numbers. Even in Final Fantasy Tactics there were some pretty sweet passives like dual wield and teleport, but I still liked the actives more.

Typically passives are the way to go but I would say it depends on weighing the pros against the cons.

Activated skills are great since it can be used once you fulfill a certain condition, for an example. but how about if you cannot fulfill that certain condition and you need to use that skill really bad when battling a certain enemy, boss or what not that is weak on that skill? I suppose you will be a sitting duck on that part.

I guess I'll go w/ passive skills but if I'm a really great gamer, then I can go w/ activated skills.

-DarkdaemonPK2

Really depends on the game. Back in the day when i used to still play World of Warcraft, i screamed for more passives, i just couldn't handle the 20+ skills you have in a fight, i always missclicked my skills or i just simply forgot where the hell was the key for the spell.

I would say regardless of the game there should be good balance between the two.