Building comparison
head to head
Diplomacy is Not an OptionvsThief II: The Metal Age
Neither is meaningfully harder - they pose close to the same test. The widest gap is variance, and it is a single point.
Diplomacy is Not an Option
Optimization · Pure Optimization
A wave-defense RTS testing economic and defensive optimization against scripted hordes.
Thief II: The Metal Age
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Mastering fixed guard circuits and tool inventories to ghost sprawling levels without a trace.
Diplomacy is Not an Option leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Thief II: The Metal Age leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Diplomacy is Not an OptionThief II: The Metal Age
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Diplomacy is Not an Option
Fast unit micro helps but isn't the ceiling
Thief II: The Metal Age
Fine arrow placement and rope climbing require care, not twitch
Reads1 vs 1
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Diplomacy is Not an Option
Enemy hordes follow scripted waves, not adapting
Thief II: The Metal Age
Mechanist guards run scripted beats, never adapting to tactics
Variance2 vs 3
Thief II: The Metal Age leans a little harder on variance, though the gap is small.
Diplomacy is Not an Option
Some map and event variation, mostly fixed
Thief II: The Metal Age
Camera placements and patrol timing are hidden on first entry
Optimization9 vs 9
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Diplomacy is Not an Option
Economy, defenses and army composition against scaling waves
Thief II: The Metal Age
Loot routing and tool economy are fully optimisable once learned
A matching score does not mean a matching test. Two games can both sit at 10 on execution and demand completely different things of you - which is why the reasoning above matters more than the number beside it.