User blog comment:Pygmy Hippo 2/Vandalic Warriors vs. Han Soldiers/@comment-25253035-20200111032403

Swords: The Han's huan shou dao sword is longer so they have the better reach than the migration period sword. The only advantage that the migration period sword has is its large pommel that can be used as a secondary blunt weapon, but I don't see how the huan shou dao's ring couldn't do the same. The best thing about the huan shou dao's ring is that it prevents the user from being disarmed, or letting the sword slip from his hands, which is really effctive in clsoe-quarters and cavalry battles.

Edge: Han Soldiers

Polearm: The ji spear has the longer reach and its more versatile since it has two spear points that can thrust and chop. However, the framea spear is lighter so it can be used in conjunction with the shield, and it can be thrown (though I doubt the effectiveness of throwing a long 7 foot stick). Sure, the ji's dagger head can probably pierce through the shield, but it is too risky since it can embed itself and get stuck in the shield, just enough for the Vandal to do a counter attack.

Edge: Vandal Warrior

Long: When it comes to bows I always choose a crossbow over a regular bow, but today is a different matchup. The Han crossbow is a powerful, easy to use weapon and relaible trigger mehcanism, and a longer range but it lacks the same penetrating power that we know from European crossbow. It is heavy and used primarily as an infantry weapon. The self bows of the vandals on the other hand, may lack power, but offers mroe advantages than the Chinese crossbow. The vandal bow is short enough to be used on horseback, and there are records that state that they used horse archers (even far more than the Romans did), The self bow of the Vandals are also dipped in poison, adding more lathality. It is hard to say whcih of the two has the edge, so I'm keeping this even.

Edge: Even

Special: I seem to not be able to find further info of the Gou Xiang weapon in google. When I try to search it the results that came out pertains of a character in a novel called Return of the Condor Heroes. But anyways, if said weapon do exist, I can't really say they would be effective against an axe. Gauntlet weaponsa re cool and versatile, and they can be sued to defend from swords strikes, but an axe has the longe reach and has more power. It can counter armor too. If a Han tries to block a swing from a Vandal axe with a gauntlet, he risks getting said hand broken.

Edge: Vandal Warriors

X-Factors: When it comes to armor, I think they are pretty even. The vandals actually also used lamellar armor so it's a wash. When it comes to tactics, the Vandals also used ambush since they are a nomadic/barbarian tribe who can use raiding parties and horse archers to annihalte foes, but the Hans take the edge since they probably know how to counter these same tactics since they fought against other tribal warriors. In experience, I have to again give it to the Hans. These guys fought and defeated the xiongnu, the same tribe that later formed the Huns that would decimate Europe. The Vandals did fairly well against Romans and other Germanic tribes, but the Hans fought the Xiongnu, other Asian nomadic tribes, and even defeated Hellestic Greeks during the War of the Heavenly Horses. So overall in x-factors, Hans take the edge.

Edge: Han Soldiers

Final Verdict: Although the Vandals take the weapons edges, I have to give it to the Han Soldiers. It will be a really close match though since the Vandals tougher upbringing as nomads and refuges, as well as their assymetrical warfare and ingenuity (these are the same farmers who mastered seafaring and siege tactics in just a few decades). But the Hans just has the edge in experience and tactics to get the win.

If you take a look at it, it looked like the Vandals should win since the Hans built an empire and the Vandals are basically one of the infamous empire destroyers in history. I respect that it was the Vandals who sacked Rome and basically coup de grace the Western Empire, but they only managed to do so since Rome wasn't that powerful at that time. The Hans defeated the Xiongnu in a hard fought victory, while the Vandals kept their distance and tried not to get the wrath of the Huns. So yeah, better tactics and feats is why I choose the Hans to win.

Winner: Han Soldiers