User blog comment:Deathblade 100/Ancient Fleets and Sailors: Vikings vs Carthaginian Warriors/@comment-26395956-20170506134542

MD 33's Vote: "The Battle of the Seas!"

Long Range: Sling vs Spear

In Deadliest Warrior, usually the sling loses out (the Aztec's one discounted) to other long range weapons, mostly bows. But now... here we compare two weapons in Deadliest Warrior that had lost against bows and arrows. The sling is a mediocre weapon compared to the bow, while the spear is even more mediocre. I mean, seriously? Throwing a damn spear while you can use it more effectively in close quarters?

I do agree with you that the two of them are pretty much useless. But I have to give this one to the Carthaginians. Granted, the sling is weak as hell. But at least it's actually a true ranged weapon compared to the spear. The spear is better used in close range than being thrown. But considering that the Vikings are gonna throw their spears, anyway, using it in medium-range combat won't happen. As an extra note, the sling is more accurate than the spear. Sure, the Vikings are stronger and can throw the spear farther, but the chances of it not hitting the target is higher than the sling.

Mid Range: Soliferrum vs Dane Axe

The dane axe is a powerful medium range weapon, but it's limited to closer ranges compared to the soliferrum, which can be thrown. And once again, this goes to the Carthaginians. But hear me out: they barely have the edge here. The soliferrum indeed can be thrown in mid-range. But the moment they run out of soliferrum and it comes down to close range fighting, the dane axe dominates it. If used in melee combat, the dane axe has more range than the soliferrum, having a four feet length advantage over the iron spear. But all and all, the Iberian warrior wins this category due to the spear's throwable feature. Other than that, in melee combat, it loses.

Short Range: Falcata vs Longsword

A total edge for the Viking. The longsword is overall the better weapon among the two due to its superior metallurgy, lighter weight, and greater length. I don't see anything making the falcata a superior weapon here. Not just because its shorter and heavier, but it's also more impractical than the longsword that can be used for both slashing and stabbing purposes. Not much to say here.

Special: Falarica vs Shield

Dead even for me. The falarica is more lethal than the shield, but the shield can be used to open up more windows for extra attacks (e.g.: bashing). And no, the falarica is not a kanabo, so it requires more effort to break the shield. The shield is (obviously) an effective defensive weapon which can cancel the falarica's attacks itself, as well as parrying the blows from the falcata and blocking the soliferrum. But all and all, once the falarica reaches its intended target, a deep wound is ensured.

Ships: Quinquireme vs Longship

At first glance, I was rooting fot the quinquireme to get the edge. But once I realized that this will be a  5-on-5 battle, which will not require a large amount of crew, the Vikings take the edge here. The quinquireme will be the better ship when a full-scale war truly happened between these two. Unfortunately, that never happened. And in this battle, the quinquireme is outright wrecked. It is bigger, heavier, and more badass, but it won't help against the longship's greater mobility, which will allow it to evade all attacks launched from the ship (THE SHIP, not the crew). The only way the quinquireme can score an instan-win (yes, it is possible) is by ramming the longship with such great force that the ship sinks. I mean, dude, comparing the size of these two is like comparing a Char 2C to an FT-17 (sorry, BF1 reference). And will the ram succeed? No. Why? The mobility of the longship. So overall, the longship wins due to its greater mobility.

X-Factors: The Iberian Tyrants vs the Northern Conquerors

Since it has already been provided above, the Vikings win. 265<310; no need to find its mean.

WINNER: VIKINGS

Yeah, I see no way of how the Carthaginian Warriors win this one. Their metallurgy is inferior, their ship is too large to outmaneuver the longship, and while they do have a greater amount of naval experience, the vikings are just too good for them in direct combat and do not hesitate to kill them. Plus, their superior navigation will be able to help them in outmaneuvering the quinquireme. And when it's time for boarding, they will slaughter the hell out of the Carthaginians with their superior weapons. Granted, the edges the two have are equal. But all and all, the superior X-Factors of the vikings will allow them to win this fight.