User blog comment:Kazanshin/Sun Tzu vs Hongi Hika (Maori)/@comment-32516697-20180817060308

'''Laqy's "Memetic Losers" Edges

Close Range: The jian is significantly longer, is made of steel, and has quite a few more ways to hurt. Easy edge to the philosopher. Edge: Sun Tzu

Mid Range: The zhua is a very clumsy-looking weapon, and the only two things it's supposedly good at are pulling away shields and dismounting cavalry, both of which are completely unnecessary in this fight. On the other hand, the taiaha is good at two much more useful things: cutting and bludgeoning. Edge: Hongi Hika

Long Range: This one is pretty difficult. Like most battles that pit gunpowder warriors against non-gunpowder warriors, the trade musket should be a big advantage, with its lethality and psychological effects. However, these are some particularly shitty muskets, and won't be nearly as effective as they could be. Conversely, the crossbow benefits from the match's circumstances. Normally the crossbow would lose any long range edge because of it's inaccuracy and low power. But against unarmoured foes, those disadvantages don't count all that much. The muskets are highly likely to miss on Hongi's initial volley, and while they might frighten Sun's men, the crossbow is much more likely to be a source of causalities. Edge: Sun Tzu

Special: A relatively large and effective bludgeoning weapon should easily get the edge against an teeny little dagger, but remember that Hongi's men are unarmoured. Both weapons will do some serious damage if they connect, so I'll just call it even. Edge: Even

Armour: Oooooh boy, this is a hard one. The Maori take the edge for their sheer buffness enabling them to- okay, enough jokes, Sun wins. Edge: Sun Tzu

X-Factor and Conclusion: Hongi's major three advantages are his experience, the muskets, and his physicality. The first can be matched by sufficient training (something Sun's boys have), the second is notoriously unreliable, and the third is matched by superior weaponry and armour. Then, Sun has a big advantages in tactics. Any way you slice it, Sun Tzu gets his long awaited victory, and now DF can finally celebrate the death of a meme. Winner: Sun Tzu!