User blog comment:ILoveBattles/ILoveBattles - Season 1 - William the Conquerer vs Richard the Lionheart/@comment-5795750-20160218070448

BG1's "For England?" Edges:

Close: Longsword easily wins over the broadsword since it is longer and can be used both two-handed and one-handed allowing for more deadly swipes and strikes

EDGE: Richard

Mid: I agree with you about the billhook - designed with both a curved blade and a spear point similar to a halberd, the billhook definitely has versatility and power behind it

EDGE: Richard

Long: I'll refer you to this video to let you know what my edge for this category would be: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsAUKRbaZ9E

EDGE: Even (surprise! I doubt William will have seen a longbow in action which is why I drew back my edge from William to even)

Special: I'm gonna assume that Richard has the war axe while William has the seax. In this case this is another even but its a kinda reverse situation with the above - both weapons have large blades and if you are saying that the war axe is like those battle axes depicted as having two blades then yes it can be rendered more versatile... but at the same time its cumbersome and I think William knows that - meanwhile the seax completely disappeared by the time of the Crusades and I am not sure if Richard has heard of or seen the seax in action meaning he might not be prepared for its use

EDGE: Even

X-Factors: Average of 82 for Richard; Average of 83 for William

EDGE: William (just)

Overall Winner: Despite marginally losing out on the X-Factors you put up here there is one more X-Factor you forgot to add in - the armour that both warriors will bring to the battlefield with Richard coming in with plate armour and chainmail vs William with just the chainmail and I'm pretty sure that despite the bows being even, once you take into account the armour then it becomes clear that Richard and his forces with the longbow will inflict devastation on the Normans unlike what William has ever seen; the longsword and billhook are of definitely valuable use as well in this battle being more versatile while being deadlier as well. Furthermore, the Crusades were a much bigger battle for Richard to be in and I'm sure his endurance rating will be higher than that of William given that he has been fighting in the deserts of the Levant and so a fight on more European terrain will certainly be a walk in the park for him.