For years we have been toiling at tabletops to flesh out brilliant characters in fantastical settings. There are those of us, who would prefer power over gameplay and it is this group who have ruined roleplaying for so many.
If you're paying D&D, Pathfinder or any of the many great RPGs out there, you should know that these games are driven by story, not power-gaming shenanigans. While no one wants to be under-powered, I don't Believe anyone wants to just frolick through a campaign, that should test the grit if the characters involved. I'm trying to wrap my head around this.
I mean, if you think this is a competition, you're horribly mistaken. The DM can have your character stuck down by lightning or give them cancer. How competitive can you really be? There is also the other option… Try a competitive game and not a cooperative one. Or, just play the damn game and enjoy telling a fun story with friends.
Stay Geeky!