heroics vs playing

heroics and playing both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
heroics	Yes	No	No	No
playing	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, playing is a hypernym of heroics; that is, playing is a word with a broader meaning than heroics:

heroics: ostentatious or vainglorious or extravagant or melodramatic conduct
playing: the performance of a part or role in a drama

Other hypernyms of heroics include acting, performing, playacting.

heroics (noun)	playing (noun)
ostentatious or vainglorious or extravagant or melodramatic conduct	the action of taking part in a game or sport or other recreation
	the act of playing a musical instrument
	the performance of a part or role in a drama