Building comparison
head to head
Pool of RadiancevsThe Alters
Neither is harder. They score identically on all four axes, so the difference between them is in kind, not degree.
Pool of Radiance
Optimization · Pure Optimization
The original Gold Box tactical RPG, won through D&D system mastery against the dice.
The Alters
Optimization · Pure Optimization
Scheduling scarce time and resources across a base run by copies of yourself.
Pool of Radiance leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); The Alters leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Pool of RadianceThe Alters
Axis by axis
Execution1 vs 1
Same score on execution - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pool of Radiance
Turn-based tactical grid; no twitch.
The Alters
Third-person walking and menus, no twitch demands
Reads0 vs 0
Same score on reads - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pool of Radiance
Monster AI is simple fixed logic.
The Alters
No adaptive opponent, only systems and story beats
Variance4 vs 4
Same score on variance - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pool of Radiance
D&D dice on every attack, save, and encounter.
The Alters
Unscouted events and alter reactions surprise first runs
Optimization8 vs 8
Same score on optimization - which means the number cannot separate them. The difference is in what each one asks of you.
Pool of Radiance
Positioning, spell memorization, and party builds win battles.
The Alters
Time, resource and crew scheduling under deadlines is the game
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.