head to head
vs
Age of Wonders 4vsWasteland 2
Age of Wonders 4 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Wasteland 2 leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Age of Wonders 4Wasteland 2
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads2 vs 1
Age of Wonders 4 leans harder on reads: AI rulers use scripted tomes and no real player modelling
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Age of Wonders 4 leans harder on optimization: Tome selection and trait stacking create a vast combinatorial optimization space
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.