User blog comment:Pygmy Hippo 2/Zulu Impi vs. Iberian Caetrati/@comment-32516697-20190923093854

Laq's "Too Late, Shaka, Rome Already Conquered Hispania" Edges

Falcata and Caetra vs. Iklwa and Isihlangu: Let's start with the weapons. I actually prefer the Iklwa, since it has quite a hefty reach advantage, and it won't suffer when the caetrati get closer because the spearhead is so long, to the point that it resembles a sword. It can slash just like the falcata, maybe not quite as effectively, but it won't be outclassed, and the material quality is about the same. The isihlangu is way bigger than the caetra, and while it may be made of weaker materials, the caetrati will have a tough time piercing it, with one exception. More on that later. The caetra is meant for a different purpose than the isihlangu, and its users will struggle to defend against the rapid attacks of the Zulu. Edge: Impi

Assegai vs. Soliferrum: The assegai obviously has a much greater range due to being lighter, but the soliferrum's weight give it a much bigger punch. If a soliferrum hits its mark, there's little chance that the isihlangu could withstand, with the iron spear punching right through and hitting the Zulu behind it. The caetrati isn't as well-armored as he could be, but with the helmet, chestplate, and shield combined, each one stands a decent chance at avoided wounds even from a direct hit. If the soldiers, for whatever reason, decide to use their spears in close-combat, the soliferrum has just enough of a reach advantage without being cumbersome. Edge: Caetrati

Iwisa vs. Sling: I don't have high hopes for either weapon in this fight. The iwisa has a far inferior range than the sling, and in close-combat, since it's just made out of wood, it's the worst choice out of all the Zulu melee weapons. The sling can pelt the Zulus from afar with volleys of pellets, but the isihlangu will offer solid protection against that. I'll actually give this to the sling, because I have better confidence in the volleys' ability to actually wound a Zulu or two from a distance over the iwisa's worse range and lack of innovation in melee combat. Edge: Caetrati

Zulu Axe vs. Gladius Hispaniensis: I've warmed up to the Zulu axe over time. As much as I like the gladius, it's really not bringing anything new that the Falcata already couldn't do, except for having two edges, while the axe, thanks to its rather ingenious design, can become a thrusting weapon, catch enemy strikes, and hook and pull away shields, all which play into the Zulu fighting style. Edge: Impi

X-Factors and Conclusion: While they have the superior shield, the impi suffer in the armor department due to having no body armor to speak of, which will hurt them if the falcata manages to reach around that isihlangu. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, the falcata's curved design will help the caetrati do just that, so maybe my close-range verdict wasn't as much of an edge for the Zulus as I thought. Both groups should be highly experienced, as they come from a time period when everyone and their grandmother was invading somebody. Now, on tactics, the Zulus aren't strangers to guerrilla warfare, but in the case of individual units, it's the caetrati's bread and butter. As skirmisher warriors, their entire purpose is to wear down the enemy with projectiles and then fall back, while the Zulus will struggle to respond in such a confrontation due to their lack of quality ranged weapons. However, the caetrati won't be able to kill all the Zulu from range; those shield are still very large and tough. However, in the end, I give the win to the caetrati. Their ranged weapons, specifically the soliferrum, will be highly effective against Zulu shields, and the caetrati are well-equipped for close-combat as well. The losses the Zulus will suffer while closing the distance will be severe enough that the survivors won't be enough for the Zulus to claim victory. Winner: Iberian Caetrati!