Well, some allied mirrors can actually be pretty intense. When the Naval Yards and the Airfields and the teching all start coming out it becomes quite a nifty matchup.
I think the main problem with this matchup is that the #1 thing is Economy. The reason I think this is because a lot of threats in this matchup are generally only really countered by having more of the opposite units. A prime example are Airfields. In most AvA, you only really counter airfields with your own airfields, not with IFV's, Hydrofoils, turrets (lol?) or javs. They're the only things that can really do it efficiently. Because there's not THAT much depth to Apollo wars, the most important factor is your economy, because the person with the most economy can simply pump the most Apollos and win (ok, ok, micro is still pretty important, but economy is MORE important).
The other reason why having more refineries is more important is because teching isn't that necessary in a lot of AvA games.
Example: You're at T2. What do you do about all those infantry? Nothing, because the units you've just unlocked are all crap at beating them (well, Guardians running over PK's kinda works...) Those aircraft that have been pounding you? Well wtf you gonna do about those with the Cyrocopter, Spy, Assault Destroyer or Guardian tanks you've unlocked? Nothing, that's what. Turrets are still easily countered by using support powers and Vindicators, and Assault Destroyers are neatly countered by good use of Hydrofoils Pacifism ray.
The problem is a lack of upgrades that are unlocked when you tech, which would encourage people to tech if they were around. For example, let's say that at Tech 2 your IFV's became amphibious and had 33% more AA ability and were 10% faster, or at least there was an upgrade which did all those wonderful things. Would going to T2 to build these magic IFV's be a more deeper counter then just buying apollos?
Teching can have some uses, that I won't completely deny, but having more money is more important then your teching, methinks.
I think the main problem with this matchup is that the #1 thing is Economy. The reason I think this is because a lot of threats in this matchup are generally only really countered by having more of the opposite units. A prime example are Airfields. In most AvA, you only really counter airfields with your own airfields, not with IFV's, Hydrofoils, turrets (lol?) or javs. They're the only things that can really do it efficiently. Because there's not THAT much depth to Apollo wars, the most important factor is your economy, because the person with the most economy can simply pump the most Apollos and win (ok, ok, micro is still pretty important, but economy is MORE important).
The other reason why having more refineries is more important is because teching isn't that necessary in a lot of AvA games.
Example: You're at T2. What do you do about all those infantry? Nothing, because the units you've just unlocked are all crap at beating them (well, Guardians running over PK's kinda works...) Those aircraft that have been pounding you? Well wtf you gonna do about those with the Cyrocopter, Spy, Assault Destroyer or Guardian tanks you've unlocked? Nothing, that's what. Turrets are still easily countered by using support powers and Vindicators, and Assault Destroyers are neatly countered by good use of Hydrofoils Pacifism ray.
The problem is a lack of upgrades that are unlocked when you tech, which would encourage people to tech if they were around. For example, let's say that at Tech 2 your IFV's became amphibious and had 33% more AA ability and were 10% faster, or at least there was an upgrade which did all those wonderful things. Would going to T2 to build these magic IFV's be a more deeper counter then just buying apollos?
Teching can have some uses, that I won't completely deny, but having more money is more important then your teching, methinks.