head to head
vs
Crusader Kings IIvsPolitical Animals
Crusader Kings II leans Optimization (Systems & Chaos); Political Animals leans Optimization (Mind & Math).
Crusader Kings IIPolitical Animals
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads3 vs 5
Political Animals leans harder on reads: Multiplayer lets you anticipate rival candidates' moves
Variance5 vs 5
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization7 vs 6
Crusader Kings II leans harder on optimization: succession, marriages, claims plannable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.