head to head
vs
Diplomacy is Not an OptionvsRome: Total War
Diplomacy is Not an Option leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Diplomacy is Not an OptionRome: Total War
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 2
Rome: Total War leans harder on reads: Optional multiplayer battles; campaign AI is mappable
Variance2 vs 2
Even - both lean on variance about the same.
Optimization9 vs 8
Diplomacy is Not an Option leans harder on optimization: Economy, defenses and army composition against scaling waves
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.