User blog comment:Urbancommando77/Mongols VS Saxons/@comment-379205-20140411015952

119's "I Was The Saxon King of England, But Then I Took An Arrow To Eye" Edges


 * Swords: The Saxon Longsword was designed as a versatile weapon capable of both cutting and thrusting, while the Turko-Mongol sabre was a specialized weapon, but very good at what it was designed to do, which was cutting down enemies from horseback. As Urban notes: Chain mail is effective against slashing strikes, however, you must also take into account the momentum of the horse, which will add to the force of the slash, perhaps enough to chop through the chain mail. Even with the addition of the factor of the horse, however, the most I can give this is Even'


 * Daggers: The Saex has a heavy blade designed to make it an effective chopping weapon similar to a machete. The Mongolian dagger seems to be a much lighter weapon. Edge: Saxon.


 * Polearms: The Mongol's Glaive takes takes this one easily, as the boar spear is primarily a thrusting weapon, while the glaive is a multi-use weapon capable of slashing and thrusting, and that hook could be used to for a variety of applications, such as pulling down horsemen and hooking and disarming shields and weapons.


 * Bows: The Mongol composite bow takes this easily. The weapon has a much higher rate of fire and longer range. In the hands of a skilled archer and with the right arrowheads, the bow could pierce plate armor, let along chainmail, and a narrow-headed arrow could go straight through the chainmail rings. Finally, the bow can be used on foot or on horseback, which made for a mobile, long range killing ability that allows the Mongols to conquer much of the Eurasian continent.


 * Heavy Melee: The Dane axe takes this as delivers sharp force trauma, which is more likely to score a one-strike kill, as opposed to the mace's blunt trauma, which could be survived. Edge: Saxon


 * Armor: Even considering that some Mongols, particularly high-ranking ones, had metal scales on top of the leather lammellar, the Saxon's chainmail provides a more solid defense against slashing attacks. However, against thursts and arrows with armor-piercing heads, both leave something to be desired. Edge: Saxon


 * X-Factors: The Mongols conquered much of the Eurasian continent, meaning they have superior combat experience and they practiced with a bow from childhood, meaning they were expert archers, both on foot and horseback. Most importantly, however, was the X-Factor that enabled their conquests was mobility: With their fast horses and light cavalry, the Mongols could easily outmaneuver and enemy force while pelting them with deadly accurate arrow fire. Edge: Mongol


 * Overall Winner: The Mongols win this battle easily, mainly due the combination of the composite bow and horseback archery, which allowed them to cut down their less maneuverable Chinese, Middle Eastern, and European foes and build a continent spanning empire.