head to head
vs
Band of BugsvsEmpire: Total War
Band of Bugs leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Empire: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Band of BugsEmpire: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads2 vs 3
Empire: Total War leans harder on reads: Multiplayer line-battle feints exist
Variance3 vs 3
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 8
Empire: Total War leans harder on optimization: Campaign economy and line-infantry tactics are mappable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.