User blog comment:Cfp3157/Empires Clash for Legacy: Mongols vs. Varangian Guard/@comment-26394487-20150624053743

Aaron Siegel's [REDACTED] Edges: "Lasting Legacies" 

Weapons:

Sword: Now, while having a double edged sword is a clear advantage, the Mongols sure had long swords. The Mongol's reach is just too extraordinary for the Varangians to take in, making it hard for them to get in close to do some damage with their own stabby weapons. Add that to the Saber's greater cutting power, and the two edges of the Varangians' swords are not enough to snatch them an edge. Winner: Mongols

Heavy Weapons: Sorry Mongols, slicing beats bashing in this case. While a broken bone may be incapacitating, a severed limb or sliced chest can be fatal. Another Plus for the Guard is that they have more reach with a better killing weapon. However, I would also like to note the attack speed difference, as a small mace is easier to swing than a huge axe. Yet I feel that the Guard still has an advantage, as it will take many hits with a mace (especially with armor) to take someone down, but one swing of the axe to kill and/or maim. Winner: Varangian Guard

Bows: When I first looked at the two bows, the first thing I thought was that the Long Bow was more menacing and could probably be more effective. However, on further research, the Mongols have many more capabilities that put their long ranged weapons above the Guard. The Mongols may be stripped of their beloved ponies, but their bows cans still fire faster and more accurately, factors that are very important in bows, especially since they both can be fairly deadly with even one shot. Winner: Mongols

Polearms: While the mongols have a decent advantage in melee range, I must say that I have to side with the Byzantines for their Boar Spear's multiple uses. For one, the Boar Spear is already deadly up close, but it's use as a part-time javelin allows the Guard to pick off the Mongols in this case from a safe distance. Winner: Varangian Guard

Special: Pfffft, a lasso may be helpful and give more range than a shield of all things, but it's seriously not going to help the Mongols at all. The lack of said ponies makes the lassos nigh useless, unless the Mongols can get the jump on the Guard (which every other weapon would be better in that case) The shield on the other hand gives the guard superior defense by far, and allows them to combat the Mongols even when they have the better firepower. Major Winner: Varangian Guard

Overal Weapons: Varangian Guard

X-Factors:

I honesly don't feel like giving a lengthy explanation as usual, as even though I know a decent amount about the Mongols and Guard, I feel like you explained it better than me, and I personally that strength and intelligence have a pretty negligible difference between the two. Winner: Even

Overall Winner: Mongols "But wait Aaron! The Guard won the weapons and tied the X-Factors! Why aren't they winning?" Well, I would like to note that I just see that Mongols as more brutal and experienced warriors. While the Guard is pretty loyal to their country, they're guards. NOT conquerors. The Mongols have played offensive for quite a long time, and the Byzantines are defensive by even their namesake. I just can't really see them winning, even with better weapons. Plus bows and swords are more important than special weapons and polearms in this case.

