User blog comment:Leolab/Ancient User Tourney, Round 2: Oliver Moreau (Winter) v Sir Bors of Newcastle (Elgb)/@comment-5232784-20160527011721

Sir Bors vs Moreau: England vs France!

1. Initial weapons:

The Naginata is a good weapon, but I doubt its going to be effective against a longsword/spiked shield combo. Sir Bors could deflect a blow form the Naginata with his shield and then cut it in half with his sword. This is really a two against one weapons battle here, and the Naginata is in a way more bulky and unwieldy than either a sword or a shield.

EDGE: Sir Bors!

2. short range

The Cutlass wont be as long as the longsword, and wont have a shield to go with it. Longer range plus added protection go to the Englishman.

EDGE: Sir Bors!

3. Mid range

The Haldberd has a far more damaging head thanthe Naginata, though will no doubt prove cumbersome as a result. The naginata will be the lighter, less bulky weapon, thus the faster and more efficient.

EDGE: Oliver Moureau!

4. Long range

In a 20 meter arena, speedy projectiles are a must, and Oliver will be able to load his bow faster than Sir Bor's Crossbow.

EDGE: Oliver Moreau!

5. Special

With a man trap, you need to rely on luck for your opponent to get caught in it. On the other hand, if you have Katars in hand, you have to rely on skill, being in close quarters with your opponent. Katar's dont rely on chance, but on speed and skill, and with both, a Katar is a formidable weapon indeed.

EDGE: Oliver Moreau!

6. Armor

The armor of Sir Bors is superior by far, being plate armor that covers the whole body. Though the musketeer armor comes from a later age, it wont offer the same protection as plate armor. Yes, plate armor can slow you down, but knights were known for considerable speed in their armor (capable of jumping on horseback and doing stunts you dont see in the movies. Indeed, modern soldiers often carry more weight during combat (equipment, etc) than Knights did with their armor, so the plate armor wont slow Sir Bors enough to be a significant disadvantage.

EDGE: Sir Bors

Oliver will be able to grab his bow and arrows and begin firing long before Sir Bors can close. However, Sir Bor's armor and shield will protect him well against such arrows (though the danger increases the closer Sir Bors draws to his opponent). The man trap wont mean much during this fight (Sir Bors would have to lay it down, set it, and hide it before his opponent could see him doing so. This is a 20 meter arena, without (as far as I know) trees and boulders around. How is he going to do this?). If Sir Bors gets into close quarters, the fiht gets more interesting. Oliver will have two Katars, a cutlass and a naginata to fight with, and the naginata will prove superior to the haldberd. However, both the naginata and the katars wont do much against a dude covered in plate armor and armed with a steel-covered shield (backed within by strong cow hide and wood) ad longsword. The cutlass also wont do much against the longsword-shield combo, especially when the armor is considered. I see Sir Bors shrugging off the incoming arrows (not many if he charges. 20 meters isn't a long distance), and, after a savage close quarters struggle, defeating Oliver Moreau with the longsword and shield. Oliver has to hope to penetrate some weak spot in the armor of overload the shield so much as to make it awkward and heavier to use before Sir Bors gets close, but if Sir Bors runs (not impossible, remember that modern troops carry heavier loads and runin combat), his chances for a good shot fall. Based on armor, shield, close quarters superiority, I give this to the Englishman.

SIR BORS JOHN BULLS OLIVR MOREAU!!!!!