User blog comment:AgentXA564/Goliath vs. Gug/@comment-5232784-20130413191452

Okay lets have a go!

1. The sickle sword of the Canaanites (aka the sappara or Khopesh) was an effective weapon, more advanced than the battle axe of the age. Though made of bronze, Bronze is stronger than some forms of Iron (wrought Iron). Although it can be utilized for stabbing, it was designed for hacking and slashing attacks. Goliath's sword would have been perhaps as large as the great longswords and Parade swords of the Landschneckts of Europe (about up to 5 feet long and over). It was a formidable weapon.

The Gug's fangs are no laughing matter, and when the Gugs open their mouths wide, they vertically part about 180 degrees, revealing a gaping fanged hole for a mouth. Such an appearance will psych many an warrior out, and though the sword is stronger than the teeth, the Gugs have far more fangs than Goliath has swords (he has only one) and the jaws together can cause far more damage than the Khopesh. However, the Sword can be utilized far more effectively than the Gug teeth.

Givent this, I say they are equalized.

EDGE: Dead Even

2. mid range

Goliath's spearhead was 15 lbs, and his spear was described like a weaver's beam, which is big and thick. A powerful weapon that could pierce shields with one blow.

Yet the Gug's have mighty arms with a combind four forelimbs, and each hand has giant talons that could cut even a giant like Goliath in half with one strike. Back by 20 feet tall, tons upon tons worth of muscle and flesh, and these weapons outshine any earthly spear

EDGE: GUG!

3. Long range:

The Bronze Javelin may have been like the Soliferrum of Carthage, a javelin of solid metal (in this case bronze). This weapon could be thrown far by a well trained warrior, and with Goliath's bigger size and strength, and the larger than usual Javelin, the weapon would have traveled far and packed a major punch.

However, the Gug's ritual stones can cause more damage than the Javelin, since they weigh several tons, if not ten tons or more, and given that the Gug had four total forelimbs and superhuman strength, perhaps they could be thrown farther than Goliath could throw his Javelin. O course, the Javelin is more accurate, but with a stone the size of a Rhino, you don't need to be ultra accurate either, because even if you miss hitting your target dead on the stone may still crush an opponent by striking him with the side of the stone instead of the middle. Plus, the stone can bust when impacting, spreading stone shrapnel that could wound and potentially even blind Goliath.

EDGE: Gug!

4. Special

Goliath's shield most likely would have been a large standing shield, bigger than a round shield and offering more protection. His armor was 125 lbs of bronze at least, when considering the shin guards and scale armor and helmet combined. However, the Gug's immense girth and great resistance to injury will give it some considerable protection.

And let us remember, Magic can go right through armor and strike its victim. Though the effectiveness of the Gug spell for this battle will be based on how long it takes to pull the spell off (in an instant, or several minutes, so on?), Magic is more powerful than bronze

EDGE: Gug!

5. X-Factors

While the Gug is larger, stronger, more intimidating, and has heightened senses, Goliath is smarter and better trained, a warrior since he was a teenager (as noted by Israel's King Saul, when he spoke to David in 1 Samuel 17, the passage that contains the David and Goliath story). One of the reasons humankind has done so well on earth and has driven other species o extinction is that, despite our physical weakness compared to many beasts (Tigers, bears, elephants, Rhinos, Gorillas, etc), our intelligence more than makes up for this. Add in military training, and humans are awesome fighters.

However, the Gugs are sentient, not bestial of mind (they do have religion), so they won't be as easily fooled as a lion or bear. But Goliath's intelligence and training win him an X-Factor edge.

EDGE: Goliath!

I feel, after all considered, that the Gug will beat Goliath of Gath: he's bigger, far far stronger, has magic, intimidating appearance, and a better killer instinct (they live by hunting beasts and killing them with their bare hands and fangs). Though the giant Goliath is intimidating to smaller opponents, the Gug will intimidate him, and will be considered by the Gug as something new and exciting to add to its supper. His huge stone will be a superior weapon, due to its size and weight and the fact that it could bust upon impact with the ground. Goliath might not be fast enough to evade such a huge an speeding projectile. Goliath's armor will not protect him from the magic and horrid, madening appearance of the vertical mouth monster, and though he is more intelligent and better trained, the Gugs a born killer.

GUG GORGES ON GOLIATH OF GATH