head to head
vs
Rise of Nations: Extended EditionvsStronghold: Crusader
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition leans Optimization (Grand Arena); Stronghold: Crusader leans Optimization (Mind & Math).
Rise of Nations: Extended EditionStronghold: Crusader
Axis by axis
Execution6 vs 5
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition leans harder on execution: Multitasking economy and armies in real time strains APM
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.