User blog comment:Kazanshin/Oda Nobunaga vs Hernan Cortes (Special Battle)/@comment-379205-20180707060205

119's "Pick on Somebody Your Own Technology Level!" Edges:


 * Swords: The Espada Ropera would likely be made of better steel then the uchigatana simply due to the superior steel the Spaniards had access to- Tamahagane actually wasn't as high quality ore as that used by many Europeans and Middle Eastern sword smiths- not the say that Japanese swords didn't display high-quality craftsmanship. The Espada Ropera also had a guard that was better designed for blocking, and while it was better designed for thrusting and less of a cutting blade, thrusts are usually what caused most kills on a medieval battlefield. Edge: Espada Ropera.


 * Polearms: The yari was a defensive polearm, often used as a "portable wall" against cavalry charges- pikemen very rarely fought in melee as the long polearm was too unwieldy. On the other hand, the halberd is a shorter polearm more designed to be used in a closer-in fight. As both situations could occur, I call this one Even: Situation Dependent.


 * Firearms: The Tanegashima musket was basically an improvement on the arquebus, equipped with both a front and rear sight, making aiming easier for better accuracy, as well as other improvements like a lacquered box to cover the match during rainfall. Edge: Tanegashima.


 * Cannon: Assuming Oda did indeed use the Taihou, it definitely takes the edge in terms of firepower thanks to its large projectile. I would also tentatively give it a slight edge in mobility as, assuming the cannon will be identical to the one in the image, the 24 pounder looks to have been literally taken off a ship, meaning it would have small wheels that would be more likely to get stuck. Edge: Taihou


 * Ships: The Galleon was an enduring ship design that lasted for centuries, but, while it was an effective warship, unlike the Tekkousen, it was designed for transport as well as fighting. The Tekkousen is designed for only one thing, and to do it well- fighting in coastal waters (where I'm assuming the fight will take place), having no sails, only oars, and being plated in steel armor which will provide substantial protection from cannon fire, while dishing out some heavy punishment of its own with its cannon and fire arrows. Edge: Tekkousen

X-Factors: In terms of strategy, I give a definite edge to Nobunaga for is effective use of ambush tactics and subterfuge at Okehazama, as well as his use of tanegashima muskets in three firing lines, combination with a line of yari in front to devastate the Takeda cavalry at Nagashino. Cortes, by contrast, won most of his victories by his superior technology and the psychological impact of the aforementioned more advanced weapons. He even suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Aztecs at La Noche Triste, where over half his men were wiped out. While he showed some tactical thinking in ambushing a rival Spanish expedition sent to arrest him for illegally starting his campaign of conquest, as well as targetting an Aztec commander to break up a larger Aztec force at Otumba, but he was no where near Oda's league, strategy-wise. Cortes also had no combat experience prior to his invasion, nor did many of his soldiers, Cortes being trained as a lawyer (which he used to justify has illegal conquest before the Spanish rulers). Oda was a highly experienced samurai warlord who fought numerous battles against similarly powerful adversaries and came on top, while, with the exception of the ambush of Spanish force sent to arrest him, never faced an adversary on his own technology level. To add to that, Cortes' conquest was heavily facilitated by an alliance with the Tlaxcalans and the smallpox the Spaniards brought with them. Had it not been for these factors, it is likely that he would not have succeeded. As for adaptability, I'd give the edge to Oda, actually, given that Oda proved effective in a variety of scenarios, including ambushes, open battle, and siege warfare. While Cortes used all of these tactics as well, he was helped along by native allies, smallpox, and a massive technology advantage. In terms of charisma, I'd say both are about even. Now, to talk about something you didn't include in the X-factors: logistics and supplies. Oda take a massive edge here, being a warlord that ruled over much of the Japan, while Cortes and his soldiers were mostly lesser nobles, mercenaries, and other fortune seekers whose expedition wasn't even legal. As such, their equipment was inferior in numbers- relatively few of the Spaniards had guns or horses- many simply carried a sword and buckler. By contrast, Oda could raise large formations of arquebusiers and pikemen. In the end, Oda Nobunaga wins a massive edge in X-Factors.

Overall Winner: Oda Nobunaga: While Cortes has some superior quality weapons thanks to the highly renowned Spanish steel, he is seriously lacking in the department of strategy and combat experience. Cortes was not trained as a solder, but a lawyer, and many of his men had little or no combat experience. While he did conquer an entire empire, he literally brought guns (and steel swords) to a (stone) knife fight, and even then, lost half his men in one battle and ultimately succeeded in large part thanks to his native allies and the smallpox that he unknowingly transmitted. Oda, on the other hand, was a highly experienced warlord revolutionized tactics in Japanese warfare with his pike-and-shot tactics, similar to those used in Europe, proved successful in battles against foes of equal technology level even in situations where he was outnumbered, and took control of a large part of Japan, paving the way for the unification of the country. That's before you even mention that Oda, realistically speaking, would have more guns and, even if the numbers are equal, better guns in the form of the tanegashima, with its improvements over the European musket. I'm not sure if this will be enough to win this battle, but I think that, looking at his record, Oda deserves to a lot better than he has on this wiki, and that Cortes shouldn't have picked on someone his own technology level!