User blog comment:El Alamein/Privateer vs. Yang-Fei/@comment-5795750-20130820020752

BG1's "Do What You Want coz a Pirate is free, You Are a Pirate!" Edges:

Short Range: *copies Dark's edge* - he literally stole what I plan to say; but I would like to add that having two large blades to fend off oncoming slashes and parries is better than one

EDGE: Yang-Fei (just)

Medium: I'll assume that the Ch'ang Ping-Tao sword is essentially a dao sword and thus I can use DW logic here - the Ch'ang Ping-Tao can slash and thrust with enough speed for a deadly cut; the rapier is just a stabbing sword and without the main gauche for support, then the Privateer is going to be in for some trouble

EDGE: Yang-Fei

Long: Pike vs Arquebus, huh? Well you can argue that the Caliver despite being a primitive gun with a long reload time can be used as a club once the enemy gets up-close but that has its problems similar to using a pistol as a whip - it can be clumsy to switch since the arquebus is long and heavy, plus I doubt the arquebus could survive the impact given its material and explosive payload; still the Caliver is effective at a larger range compared to the pike but the pike is more practical

EDGE: Even

X-Factors

Psychological Warfare - My edge here would have to be even because of the drawbacks each side has: to me, the Yang-Fei's advantage lies in numbers which the Yang-Fei lacks in this scenario and the Privateer behaves in a more ennobled manner as a naval officer than as ruthless as a pirate

EDGE: Even

Strategy - Edge here has to go to the Privateer since they are primarily sent out to disrupt trade routes efficiently and to the benefit of the country paying the privateer whereas the main aim of the Yang-Fei is simply equivalent to that of a terrorist or a Mafioso

EDGE: Privateer

Combat Experience - Edge here again goes to the Privateer since they have existed for a longer period of time (lates 1500s and early 1600s to early 20th century)

EDGE: Privateer

Endurance - The Privateer has the heavier arsenal but the Yang-Fei has to be fast and agile in its attacks

EDGE: Even

Intelligence - At first to me this seems to go hand-in-hand with strategy but then again, the Privateers were not instructed as to the rules of naval warfare and again this looks like a comparison to see which is the lesser of the two evils

EDGE: Even

Creativity - Yang-Fei are essentially pirates with martial arts skills and swordsmanship skills meaning they learn a lot more fighting techniques than the Privateer; add to that the Yang-Fei's edge in agility and speed and you got yourself an unpredictable H2H maestro

EDGE: Yang-Fei

Weapon Use - Easily the Yang-Fei again because the hooks, pike and sword are the only primary weapons in their arsenal; I doubt a Privateer is well-versed in using the Caliver well

EDGE: Yang-Fei

Brutality - It's almost even since the Yang-Fei are, as I say again, the terrorists of their day using their unpredictability with deadly consequences and the Privateers only do what they do under the promise of money and freedom from the authorities but for now, I'm giving my edge to the Yang-Fei

EDGE: Yang-Fei

Overall Winner: Despite the Privateers having a gun and a secondary short range weapon, I think the Yang-Fei takes this match although it will be a close struggle - the key points here that make me vote for the Yang-Fei is their unprecedented skill in swordmanship and H2H which is something I doubt the Privateer has encountered before (especially when you consider that Privateers have only worked in the Atlantic and Caribbean regions of the world whereas the Yang-Fei have fought armed and trained men from the Old World where the Privateers also come from)