User blog comment:SPARTAN 119/Hobbit Movie Release Special: Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit) vs Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)/@comment-5232784-20141222014042

Boy this could take a while

1. Thorin vs Tyrion

Orcrist vs arming sword

Orcrist, the Goblin cleaver, was forged by the Noldor elves, which were so powerful that their very appearance burned orcs (Galadriel is a Noldor elf). These elves were so powerful they thought they could defeat Melkor, the evil Valar, in Middle Earth (Valar are more powerful than maiar spirits in tolkien mythos, and Sauron, no matter how strong he could be, was still only a maiar. Only one maiar was as powerful as a Valar). Gandalf's Foe Hammer, another Noldor blade, was used to terrible effect against Durin's Bane, a balrog demon. You see in the film where Thorin's orcrist collides with the Great Goblin's staff, which sends the giant goblin down (the goblin is the size of a rhino, and orcs arms are long and powerful, like the apes, so this should give an indication of just how supernaturally powerful Orcrist is).

The arming sword is a medieval blade, made of steel but no doubt as good as steel as a noldor blade. Orcrist might cut right through it.

Magic and technology favor Thorin

EDGE: Thorin!

One handed vs double bit axe

The double bit axe has a two to one blade advantage to the one handed axe, the power edge, and it is sharper. However, the one handed axe is dwarf made, who are the best metalurgists in Middle earth, a time when humans likewise knew steel blades. This means that the metal of the one handed blade might be superior to that of the two bit axe. Also, the two bit axe will be slower than the one handed axe, and the former is wielded by a warrior with far less strength than his opponent ( Middle earth dwarves are noted for being very strong, and since dwarves have a height range of 4 to 5 feet, Thorin maybe larger than him). Tyrion just does not have the strength needed to counterbalance the better speed of the one handed axe. Thorin is stronger and faster, and wields an axe that is dwarf made and lighter.

EDGE: Thorin!

Dwaven shortbow vs Crossbow

While the arrowheads of the dwarvish shortbow will probably be better made than the arrowheads of the crossbow, the latter has far superior punch and likely range. Its a great sniper's weapon, and Tyrion can hide, wait for Thorin to appear, and strike

EDGE: Tyrion

Oaken shield vs Heater shield

No contest: though the oakenshield is surprisingly strong for a wooden shield (capable of taking a lot of punishment from the gian orc Azog the defiler's mace, and remember, orcs are stronger than humans at any size), the heater shield is made of metal: far less likely to break (might even just bend) and wont catch on fire and burn up the way wood will.

EDGE: Tyrion

Flashflame vs Wildfire

Thorin, being a dwarf and probably larger than Tyrion, and also having more efficient arms (human little people's arms are pobably mostly not as efficient as those of a normal person's, due to their small size and shape), will no doubt be able to throw his grenade over a longer distance, thus having better range. However, the wildfire is like greek fire in a grenade, and is a truly lethal weapon. Tyrion, being a intellectual fighter, will wait for the right time to use it, when it will be too late to dodge...

EDGE: Tyrion

X Factors:

Physicality: Thorin wins here hands down. MIddle Earth Dwarves are more sturdily built than humans, being very stout and having a great resistance to pain and injury. They are not built like a human dwarf, being more anatomically normal, which gives Thorin an edge. His speed and agility will likewise be more impressive.

Edge: Thorin

Intellect: Tyrion is not a rush-out-and-clobber type of warrior, but a thinker, like Oddyseus or Cyrus the Great of Persia. He will figure out quickly his strengths and weaknesses compared to Thorin and the dwarves. He will be a better stategist, and will make use of his smaller size to hide out, ready his crossbow and grenades, and unleash a terrible retribution on the middle earth dwarves. Thorin, on the other hand, has made some blunders in his day, is not as careful, and has made some blunders (though some of these were due to the gold lust he attained in Erebor, in the film at least). Tyrion is far better in the intellect department.

Edge: Tyrion

Experience: Dwarves can live a few centuries, and in that time, a dwarf warrior can engage in a large number of battles, more so than a human. To survive to an old age testifies to the prowess of a dwarven warrior. Thorin is not elderly yet, but he is older than he looks, and in his time he has no doubt fought several, if not numerous, battles and skirmishes. He will have a great advantage in experienceover Tyrion.

EDGE: Thorin

Armor and technology (and magic)

While Thorin lacks in armor, technology is a bit more complicated: the metallurgy of the Dwarves will no doubt surpass that of the Game of Thrones humans, but Thorin's long range and special weapons are not as superior as those of Tyrion. Orcrist has the added element of magic to it, which Tyrion I doubt could counter. Still, the crossbow and wildfire grenade takes the edge here, in terms of technology.

EDGE: Tyrion

Training:

Dwarf warriors are highly trained, capable of giving elves are run for their money (and some warrior elves have been fighting for centuries and millenia). They are some of the best warriors of middle earth. While Tyrion has no doubt had training, I doubt his is on par with Thorin's.

EDGE: Thorin

2. Allies

Much of what we discussed with Thorin vs Tyrion applies here as well, with some differences: Here, the dwarves have grenades (Balin), the humans are larger, and thus have better range with their short range weapons (though not necessarily better made weapons), and long range (longbow vs short bow), but the dwarves will have better resistance to pain, injury, will be stronger, will have better steel weapons, and being so long lived will have better experience. Dwarves have no problem taking down larger opponents (orcs, men, even some evles wargs and trolls, etc) while the humans might underesimate the smaller warriors, due to their size (a big mistake).

Plus, the humans might not be that much larger than the dwarves: while the humans of middle earth seem, when all factors are considered (size of hobbits and dwarves compared to men), the humans of the Game of Thrones might not be as large. In the medieval period, humans were probably about five and a half feet tall on average, due to harder upbringings, sickness and poor diet when young. Thus they will be taller than the dwarves, but perhaps not as much as middle earth men, thus giving the dwarves a big advantage.

TBC