head to head
vs
Rise of NationsvsTotal Annihilation
Rise of Nations leans Optimization (Mind & Math); Total Annihilation leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Rise of NationsTotal Annihilation
Axis by axis
Execution5 vs 5
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads7 vs 6
Rise of Nations leans harder on reads: Opponent nation pick and age-rush timing must be predicted
Variance3 vs 2
Rise of Nations leans harder on variance: Map resource placement and wonder race timing add moderate uncertainty
Optimization8 vs 9
Total Annihilation leans harder on optimization: Metal extractor priority and factory queuing are deeply optimizable
Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.