head to head
vs
Age of DecadencevsPillars of Eternity
Age of Decadence leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Pillars of Eternity leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Age of DecadencePillars of Eternity
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance5 vs 4
Age of Decadence leans harder on variance: Hidden skill check thresholds and branching quest states create meaningful unknowns
Optimization9 vs 9
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.