User blog comment:Wassboss/Rootin' Tootin' Wild West Shootin': Dutch van der Linde vs "Lucky" Ned Pepper/@comment-27043000-20190305022534

Pygmy Hippo's "The Lamer Ned Fights A Frisian" Edges

Personal Weapon:The Custom Smith & Wesson Schofield Model 3" has the quicker muzzle velocity and two revolvers are usually better than one but the Remington Model 1875 has the deadlier round, more range, and is easier to reload. On closer examination, both are single action and seem to have the same capacity but dual-wielding means that the Custom revolvers take that edge along with not having to reload as often and beat out the Remington with a faster bullet and rate of fire. Edge:Dutch

Rifle:The Winchester 1866 "Yellowboy" is more reliable but the Evans Repeating Rifle has a larger magazine capacity, further range, and better accuracy. Both use the same round and are lever-action so it comes down to whether or not the Evans will break in the middle of the fight which might happen in a large-scale battle but not in a squad one so the Winchester loses. Edge:Dutch

Shotgun:The Winchester 1897 completely dominates the Colt 1878 Coach Gun with a larger magazine capacity and presumably greater range. Both may use the same round but the pump-action shotgun is superior to the double-barrel shotgun. Edge:Dutch

Sidearm:The Smith & Wesson Schofield Model 3 ties with the Colt Single Action Army in almost every category with both being single action, the same magazine capacity, same caliber, and equal range but has the slower muzzle velocity. Edge:Dutch

X-Factors:Dutch van der Linde takes the edge in Experience, Leadership, and Brutality while "Lucky" Ned Pepper takes the edge in Mental Health. While Dutch has more advantages, as Tybalt pointed out, poor Mental Health is an awful disadvantage that only really improves Brutality which is a terrible X-Factor in the first place. As it doesn't appear to hinder Dutch's other advantages too much and that's Ned's only advantage, I still have to give it to the man with the superior Experience and Leadership. Edge:Dutch

Final Verdict:It should be clear by now that Dutch van der Linde will win this fight due to his superior weapons and X-Factors but while it is true that Mental Health has been the downfall of other warriors with a notable example being Ivan the Terrible, Ivan isn't a squad warrior like Dutch and mostly relied on peons to do his work for him. "Lucky" Ned Pepper might be more stable but it's clear that his weapons aren't doing him any favors and his opponent can still be a capable fighter despite his fault. Ironically if Dutch had prep this could likely cost him the match but random encounters don't really allow much time to think so it comes down to who the more experienced warrior is with better weapons.

Winner:Dutch Van Der Linde