head to head
vs
Dragon Age: OriginsvsIcewind Dale II
Dragon Age: Origins leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Icewind Dale II leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Dragon Age: OriginsIcewind Dale II
Axis by axis
Execution2 vs 2
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads1 vs 1
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Icewind Dale II leans harder on variance: 3E feat combinations and hidden enemy resistances create unknown-information layers
Optimization8 vs 9
Icewind Dale II leans harder on optimization: 3rd Edition feat optimization and multi-class architecture dominate success
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.