User blog comment:Undead RVD/Battle of the Bronze Armies: Spartans vs Easterlings/@comment-13937974-20130731154033

Close Range-The Scimitar, the steel would be more than enough to penetrate the Spartan armour while the iron Xiphos would be much less effective. The Scimitar may suffer in very close combat because of its size but when the phalanx inevitably breaks, the xiphos will become less useful.

Edge-Easterlings

Mid Range- While the Dory spear has a much longer length, the wooden shaft would be easily broken. The Halbard also has a larger range of uses. The Halbard is made of steel which would be much reliable and effective.

Edge-Easterlings

Long Range-The Long Bow is a much better weapon. It would be more powerful than the bow although less heavy. It can fire several arrows in 30 seconds while the javelin would give you one throw and thats it.

Edge-Easterlings

Armor-The steel armor would offer much more protection than bronze. The bronze armor only coves certain parts. An arrow or spear to the leg would bring a Spartan down while a spear to an Easterlings leg might not even penetrate. The Spartans shield would not offer a huge amount of protection. It would dent easily under the Easterlings weapons.

Edge-Easterlings.

Winner-Easterlings.

While the Spartans are elite in their own right, they would not be able to compete with the Easterlings superior weapons. Once the phalanx breaks it would be very hard for the Spartans to adapt. The Easterlings would simply pour over the Spartans in seconds. While the Spartans would be physically stronger the tactics would have a large role to play.