User blog comment:Leolab/Ancient User Tourney, Round 9: Oliver Moreau (Winter) v Ganzorig (Wass)/@comment-17814994-20160715095819

Elgb's '"Son of a KHAAAAAAN!!!!" 'EDGES!!!

Initial: I have to give this one to Ganzorig's bow. 20m won't be a problem for Ganzorig, and he can probably chuck away a couple of arrows before Winter can get close with his naginata. While Winter is wearing a musketeer cuirass that can block the arrows, his arms, legs neck and face are still unprotected. With these body parts left wide open, Ganzorig has both the training and the lineage to snipe them off as Oliver tries to close the gap. It also doesn't help that the cuirass would weigh Oliver down just enough to decrease his speed to be able to get close with his naginata. EDGE: Wass

Short: The cutlass is your average broadsword. It's slashing is mediocre but it is a decent thrusting weapon. Although it was a good weapon on land, it's short and only slightly curved blade was meant for the close quarters of a ship. Since this battle will be taking place in an open arena, Ganzorig's scimitar would be able to hold back an opponent much easier. A scimitar can still thrust, but not as deep as a cutlass or other sabers. However, it does have tremendous cutting power, and that enlarged tip offers both cutting and concussive damage. So in terms of curved blades, the one who can slash deeper is the winner. EDGE: Wass

Mid: I have to give a slight edge to the naginata. The guan dao is only slightly longer (since Wass didn't specify it I'm guessing between 5-6 feet). But what really gives the naginata the edge is that it can both slash and stab. The wide and curved blade of the guan dao seems to be designed as a slashing and hacking weapon, for both slash cuts and push cuts. An oversized axe-like poelarm has its benifits, but in polearms, it's better to also have the ability to use it's length to actually straight up stab someone. The only advantage the guan dao has is its blade and tassle cloth, which is there to mask its movement and probably confuse someone, but besides that it's no more modes of attacks. It also doesn't help that it is his favorite weapon and probably used it more than Ganzorig did with his guan dao (he shoulda stick with a Mongol glaive or something). EDGE: Winter

Long: It's kinda obvious that Ganzorig is the better bowman here. He prizes his bow, and since he's a Mongol, he probably mastered the weapon already since he was a child, unlike Oliver who only got good at it when he became an adult. While Oliver has the advantage of poison arrows, those won't be much help since Ganzorig will be wearing tough lamellar armor. And like what I said before, Ganzorig will be having no problem shooting at Oliver's unarmored parts (which is basically, everywhere besides the torso). EDGE: Wass

Special: This is a tough one for me. Oliver has the edge since he's got two weapons at his disposal, and both are lighter and faster that Ganzorig's flanged mace. But the flanged mace is offering both power and length, and the dual katars' short blade will not be able to block its strike (or Oliver risks a big chance of it breaking his hand). However, both warriors are wearing armor. Oliver's katar will be having difficulty penetrating steel lammelar. Unless it hits the face or the neck, all it can do is wound and piss Ganzorig off. The mace on the other hand will hurt, stun or even kill Oliver, even if it hits him in his armor. It also doesn't help that Oliver is still learning how to use those weapons, so he probably has little knowledge on how to properly use it, especially against someone carrying a heavy weapon like a mace. EDGE: Wass

Armor: It's kinda hard assessing how much Ganzorig's armor will be protecting him. The picture's a good representation but Wass never specified if Ganzorig will also be wearing a helmet and a mask like in the picture. Ganzorig will be probably wearing the typical Mongolian armor that also covers up the limbs. Ganzorig also has an extra silk vest to further increase his protection. Still, the musketeer cuirass is probably harder and more durable. However, it only protects Oliver's torso and that's a big disadvantage. EDGE: Wass

Deadliest Warrior?

I'm giving the edge to Ganzorig in this battle. He just has the better weapons and x-factors to fight. He has the better ranged weapon, long weapons and armor, not to mention that he's got weapons for both armor and unarmored opponents. I like Oliver having a mixed bag of weapons from different cultures in his disposal, but sadly in this fight those turned out to be his greatest weakness. Oliver's still learning how to us some of his weapons, unlike Ganzorig's Eastern weapons that he probably had more training and usage with.

Another blow to Oliver is that Ganzorig's pretty much sweeps all the major x-factors in a fight. Although he's a shepherd, he's still a Mongol and a Khan's illigitimate son, so he probably lived a tougher life than the noble Oliver and used weapons since he was a kid. Oliver's only advantage is that he had fought a variety of enemies in his mercenary work. He fought pirates, samurais and Indian bandits, but those are nothing compared to Ganzorig military career fighting in the Mongol Invasion of Europe itself, which killed thousands of people and also gives him at most two decades of combat experience and tactics. So in the end, simple tried and true weapons and years of battle experience, beats out a well-varied set of weapons and mercenary adventuring.