User blog comment:Leolab/Ancient User Tourney, Round 1: Hirai Norio (Cfp) v William Vigiles (Alock)/@comment-17814994-20160521045221

Elgb's "Ancient Hunger Games!!! (Presented by President Leo Snow XD)" EDGES!!!

Initial: First and formeost, none of these weapons will be that effective against each other's armor (the same way the Naginata and the Spartan Spear did in Back for Blood). The Oak truncheon does have the advantage of being a blunt weapons that can damage someone pass through the armor, but it's too small and lacks both range and power. It can be deadly if hit in the temple or face, but besides that it's a useless non-lethal weapons. The katana on the other hand, while it won't penetrate armor, can still be used as a stabbing weapon to pin-point weak unarmored parts like the face, joints and the pits, so it takes the edge. Although the katana and virtually all Japanese swordsmanship art were designed for slashing (primarily against unarmored peasants), I'm sure that Norio can find a way to adapt to Vigiles' armor with time. EDGE: Cfp

Mid: Sorry guys but I have to go with the longsword on this one. While the kanabo has the bludgeoning power to crush someone wearing armor, it's also slow. While a guy in armor is also slow enough for a kanabo to hit, Vigiles' longsword can parry those heavy attacks and deal some of his own. While it won't penetrate armor, the longsword was also designed to pin-point unarmored parts ala half-swording and other thrusting styles. EDGE: Alock

Long: I'm pretty sure people are going to kill me for this but I have to go to the crossbow on this one. 20m is enough for each long range weapons to have the time to fire and hit someone. And there are a lot of misconceptions of these two that needed to be addressed. People do say that the yumi bow has the faster rate of fire and that's true, but it's reloading and aiming speed isn't that much faster than a crossbow. The Japanese loved using their weapons with grace. The yumi bow was designed for horseback, hence why it's so long. It can be fired on foot, but not as quick as recurve bows and the like. It wasn't design to spam arrows, it was designed to slowly and surely hit someone with grace. Count also the fact that the Yumi used broadarrows that lacked the power to actually penetrate armor (it was designed to be used against unarmored peasants in the Heian period). Hirai can deal damage if he hits unarmored parts like the face, but in a adrenaline-filled battle, chances of that are slim (unless he's Hawkeye). The crossbow, while a little bit slower, will deal far more damage. While the composite crossbow doesn't have the power of a steel crossbow, it can still get penetrate deeper than the flimsy yumi. Add also the fact that there are different types of bolts standardly issued with the weapon, such as needle points and armor breakers, and the crossbow will surely deal massive damage. EDGE: Alock

Special: Well obviosuly two pairs of short swords beats a typical dagger. Though it's kinda strange that Hirai as a samurai doible weilds a wakizashi of all things. The weapon was issued as a side-weapon, and it wasn't until Miyamoto Musashi where dual-weidling became a thing in Japanese swordsmanship. Still, even if Hirai doesn't dual weild his sideswords, one wakizashi is still enough to beat a dagger. EDGE: Cfp

Armor: Well, European style iron armor wins for me. While the Do-maru does have the advantage of being lighter, both warriors will still be hampered by 25 pounds minimum that will reduce mobility and speed, so I don't think anyone's going to be prancing around their enemies that long. However, the real reason here is the fact that solid breastpaltes did replace lamellar and scale armor overtime. Scales are cheap and can easily be replaced, but every slash and hit it takes will chip the scales off and drastically reduce armor. It also doesn't help that unlike the Mongolians who riveted their steel lamellar armor, the Japanese used strings to lace their scales and plates, which obviosuly won't give the armor that much durability. It's cheaper and more ergonomic, but it does so by sacrificing more protection. Vigilies' iron breatplate is more solid and offers more protection. While it is heavier and the helmet reduces vision, it will protect him from almost all of Hirai's weapons, and give him enough time to get a turnover and strike back. EDGE: Alock

X-Factor: Well, it's obvious that Hirai take almost every factor from training, experience and skills. Vigiles feat of taking out 10 soldiers by himself was noteworthy, but that't the only factor he has going for him. Hirai isn't a stranger to being outnumbered by himself, but the fact that he was trained from a young age in one of history's greatest warrior culture, severely beats Vigile and his experience as a beat-up cop/watchman. EDGE: Cfp

Deadliest Warrior?

While William Vigiles has the superior armor, sword and projectile weapon, those would only give him an early game advantage. Vigilies' may have some training with his weapons, but he's jsut a watchman. While his weapons are better, Vigile  lacks the actual combat experience to fully utilize his weapons like Hirai Norio. While Norio's weapons at first will have a hard time getting past the longsword and the armor, his decades long experience will help him find away to adapt and get pass through his disadvantage with time. And trust me, an inexperienced watchman who's more comfortable just subduing his foes than actually killing them, will give Hirai Norio enough time to strategize and win.