User blog comment:Deathblade 100/Ancient Greek Killers: Hector of Troy vs Xerxes I/@comment-5795750-20160707113915

BG1's "Sing O Muses..." Edges:

Close Range: So as far as I've read, I can say for certain that the kopis while used extensively by Greek cavalry (and Hector here) as a military weapon, it is closer to a modern-day machete than an actual sword and while it has the devastating power of a machete, I feel like the acinaces - a tried and true battle sword - wins out here because of its double-edged nature which makes it good for both slashing and stabbing despite its shortness against the kopis

EDGE: Xerxes

Medium Range: I gotta give this to the good old spear over the javelin - I mean the javelin can be used as a thrown weapon rather than a spear but time and time again on this site, weapons like these are looked down upon simply because once you throw the weapon and it misses, then it is going to be a hassle to recover; it's better to have a weapon on hand at all times (like Xerxes has with his spear) than to chuck one away

EDGE: Xerxes

Long Range: *copies EA's edge shamelessly*

EDGE: Even

Special: EA has pointed this out to me beforehand and I actually knew this info also beforehand when it was present in another battle (though I can't remember which one... oh yeah - Argonauts vs KotRT) but the labrys axe, although impressive with its double-bit head, is merely another improvised weapon (this time with the capabilities of a modern-day timber axe) like the kopis as well as a mere ceremonial tool. The sagaris, like the acinaces, is the more tried and true battle weapon being used here and its versatile head not just used for hacking away but also bludgeoning and stabbing is more useful

EDGE: Xerxes

Armour: Since the lamellar of the Persians is made of bronze and leather, as armour it is lightweight and easy to move around in whereas the cuirass, made of just bronze, is tough but lanky

EDGE: Xerxes

X-Factors: Average of 70 for Xerxes; Average of 67.5 for Hector

EDGE: Xerxes

Overall Winner: I get why people are voting for Hector to win given that he is one of Troy's greatest warriors who managed to take on the Greek champions Protesilaus, Ajax and Achilles as well as be an effective leader of the Trojan army but therein lies some reasons I vote against Hector - while he does kill Protesilaus and commands his fellow Trojans very well, he fought Ajax to a stalemate and was killed by Achilles; I understand that is all due to the Olympians intervening but still...

Anyway, I actually think that Xerxes I has a chance of winning this after a very long struggle. Not only are his weapons more combat-oriented and effective at killing than Hector's arsenal (which features more-or-less improvised weaponry and a useless throwing weapon), his troops are more organised and professionally trained, he has an advantage in metallurgy and, I would argue, he actually boasts the greater experience than Hector actually managing to expand the Persian Empire extensively by invading the Greek mainland - something that Hector ultimately failed to do.