head to head
vs
Planetary AnnihilationvsStronghold: Crusader
Planetary Annihilation leans Optimization (Mind & Math); Stronghold: Crusader leans Optimization (Mind & Math).
Planetary AnnihilationStronghold: Crusader
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads6 vs 6
Even - both lean on reads about the same.
Variance3 vs 4
Stronghold: Crusader leans harder on variance: Goods market prices and siege equipment availability fluctuate
Optimization8 vs 8
Even - both lean on optimization about the same.
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.