User blog comment:Pygmy Hippo 2/Zulu Impi vs. Iberian Caetrati/@comment-27358240-20191001044253

I'd love to make a long, detailed vote, but wikia already ate my vote once and I'm short on time so I'll make this quick. I'm going against everyone and giving this to the Zulu. First off, their shield is, I believe, better. As far as my finds go, they were apparently made of two layers of hardened oxhide, which will definitely be tough enough to act as an effective shield. The caetra, while more durable, is far smaller and offers less coverage. Their close quarters weapon, the iklwa, is longer and more effective than the falcata, especially thanks to the shield-hooking techniques of the Zulu. For long range, the assegai isn't as devastating but is definitely going to hit a lot more than the soliferrum thanks to the bigger shields of the Zulu, and Zulu shields were made specifically to counter long range javelins. Blunt, I give it to the sling which brings an extra option to the fight. The club is useless. Special weapons, the isizenze brings options that the iklwa don't have while the gladius is a less useful falcata.

In the end though, it's not the weapons that win the fight for me, it's the way the Zulu fight. The Impi was made specifically to counter light infantry forces like the Caetrati by slaughtering them in close combat. Sure, the Iberians can hold their own in melee, but the Zulu definitely have the edge up close. And as we know from the battle of Gqokli Hill, the Zulu can run down enemy skirmishers, stab them in the back and turn a feigned retreat into a real rout. The Zulu have the edge in melee, have a big shield to protect them and counter the hit and run tactics of the Iberians, I give my vote to the Zulu Impi.