It has been a while since I was an active gamer in the greater community, but I'm back now. Avid CharOpt player for 3/3.5/PF (I was the original Totemist/Necrocarnate breaker when MoI came out, as my main claim to fame). I have always had this handle, as well, so if you remember it you probably remember me.
Now that I'm done bragging, here's the nitty gritty. I currently play once a week, alternating campaigns (Changeling Rogue/Warshaper and Warforged Wu Jen (Metal) atm). US Army tends to move me around a bit more than I like, so that means my characters tend to last a year or two. All characters I write tend to be semi-optimized (unless I know that a lot of power will be needed, in which case I just avoid game-warpers), and all have at least decent backstories (I have about a dozen personas I fit characters into). The game is more important than the character, always.
I'm always up for a challenge, and love asking DMs what they would like to see played ("Utility or Artillery?" is a common one). If you have one to issue me... well, just go ahead