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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Greg K" data-source="post: 3701541" data-attributes="member: 5038">Well among my friends there is a distinction between optimization and powergaming and they are on seperate axisOptimization:  Its about prioritization of numbers to meet a concept.  Every one does this  to some degree just by assigning numbers.  At an extreme, the person is so focused on the concept/build, they ignore placing points in what the character has been doing/experiencing and either continues focusing on optimizing a certain skill or ability when they have not been utilizing the existing skill or acquire a new skill or ability despite having lacked the ability to receive training in the new skill or ability.Powergaming: An interest in playing for the purpose of gaining power or to play a character that is powerful.  Most people want to see their character improve. However taken to an extreme,  the person plays  for the sole purpose to kill things to take their stuff and get more powerful in order to kill more power and take their stuff and get more powerful.As for playing a heroic character, what is powerful depends on the person.  Some people consider a character slightly above average caught in an extreme situation to be heroic. Others would disagree and believe to be  heroic a character must be more powerful. Their view of heroic level might be special forces/tactical unit, some one else might consider heroic to be the very elite (e.g., Captain America or Conan) other want to play at some level beyond that - possibly gods.</blockquote>

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