head to head
vs
Rome: Total WarvsStronghold: Crusader Extreme
Rome: Total War leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Stronghold: Crusader Extreme leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).
Rome: Total WarStronghold: Crusader Extreme
Axis by axis
Execution3 vs 3
Even - both lean on execution about the same.
Reads2 vs 3
Stronghold: Crusader Extreme leans harder on reads: Skirmish AI lords are predictable; human games add some adaptation
Variance2 vs 1
Rome: Total War leans harder on variance: Diplomacy and AI moves add modest fog
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.