RPG's and Climbing

Ever played a role-playing-game like like Final Fantasy or Legend of Zelda?  I realized yesterday that my approach to tackling ever harder climbs is a lot like my approach to tackling ever more difficult enemies in the RPG's.  I tend to be more conservative and want to gain an overwhelming amount of "experience points" before taking on my next hardest climbs.  I've been staying well in the 5.10 range since last year and into this year, with only the occasional "stretch" climb into the 11's or (god forbid!) 12's.  Given the life/death nature of climbing, naturally a certain conservative approach makes sense; well, certainly there's more at stake as you can't simply reload the game since the last checkpoint that you saved it.  No control-z. However, there's something to be said about pushing yourself aggressively to your limit.  A more "alpine" approach to training vs. the siege-style "himalayan" tactics.  Go in there with a legitimate chance of failure. You learn more that way.  And there's something satisfying about punching above one's weight class.  Being the underdog and sneaking out a victory.

That said, the similarities with RPG's and climbing probably doesn't extend to South Park's take on World of Warcraft.  At least no matter what, I won't turn fat and pimply.  Hopefully.