If a feature like this was introduced should people using this feature be penalised so that it takes slightly longer than using the normal one character at a time?

This would be obsolete if we could set training through EVE gate.

You may want to prepare for a firestorm. There is a certain attachment to single-character training only from a number of established players who won't even consider anything related to it. Or maybe there will be a large amount of love; you can never tell with GD

I don't see the benefit to a player from what you have suggested, but I probably misunderstood what you meant. To clarify:

1/1/2012 - Pilot 1 on Account 1: Trains 10 day skill.
11/1/2012 - Pilot 2 on Account 1: Trains 5 day skill.
16/1/2012 - Pilot 3 on Account 1: Trains 5 day skill
21/1/2012 - All training completed.

Whereas, you are suggesting:

1/1/2012 - Pilot 1 on Account 1: Trains 10 day skill, takes 30 days.
1/1/2012 - Pilot 2 on Account 1: Trains 5 day skill, takes 15 days.
1/1/2012 - Pilot 3 on Account 1: Trains 5 day skill, takes 15 days.
31/1/2012 - All training completed.

Is that correct? In that case, what happens to Pilot 1 when Pilot 2 and 3 complete training? Does it stay at 3 x or does it drop back to 1 x assuming no other training in progress?

If I've understood that right; then I don't see what the real benefit for a player is in training in parallel instead of in series.

What exactly is wrong with the way it is?

You mean aside from the fact that you can only train skills on one character at a time?

Your assumption is correct - once training has finished on one character the others increase speed to match however many characters are left training. The benefit is that it makes managing multiple characters easier without having to log out and in to them and turn on and off training as many times - which isn't probably so much of an issue for single account players although it would save some hassles. The idea above of being able to train skills via Eve Gate would also have a similar effect but I don't think it would make this obsolete as you'd still be only able to do one at a time. Its probably most effective when training multiple small skills that can fit in your skill queue as otherwise you'd have to log in to change the skills anyway.
So possibly a combination of both of these solutions would be useful. I'll add the Eve Gate training to my agenda :)

The negative is that CCP spends time on something that is useless. I really don't see a reason for wanting to train 3 chars at once at 1/3 the speed, you get the same end result by training one at a time and it's not that hard to time with the skill queue. The only thing I can think of is that you train chars to sell and want it made easier, other than that I don't get the point.

+1 for changing skills via EVE gate and the better solution of being able to add skills to queue on any character on the same account.

As far as making it easier to switch to another active character for training, I'm all for that.
It is quite the pain to log in and out, stop one, start another. Make that easier, fine...

I still don't see the problem with only being allowed to train one character at a time... And no it's not because I'm a bitter vet.
I really was never bothered by it. Really, why is this such a problem? If you want 2 characters to train, create another account. It's just business.

Yeah, log to character screen is something that interests alot of people, there may be some reason that isn't apparent that makes it difficult to impliment.

Yeah, log to character screen is something that interests alot of people, there may be some reason that isn't apparent that makes it difficult to impliment.