Deadliest Warrior: The Forum Game

[Phoenixguard09]

Hey guys,

While playing Extended Factions I started thinking about Deadliest Warrior. I know, tis a silly show, but what if they actually did match-ups that made fething sense hey? I mean like forgetting this armadillo with almost 1000 year gaps between the fighters and actually have relatively fair and interesting match-ups.

This got me thinking about a forum game.  My thoughts were that we'd post 2 warriors of antiquity with a set of equipment that would be divided into a few categories. Then we could discuss who we think would win and a highly effective, state of the art computer program (ie. Warband with some choice modding) that would tell us who would win as accurately as Warband could.

If you vote for the winner you get... 10 Triumph Points perhaps?

What say you, my friends?

EDIT* Apparently, yes.

1st Match-Up

So far we have:

Late-era Huscarl
- Nordic Arming Sword (I hate Oakeshott typology. It's a major pain the ass, so I'm not gonna bother)
- Large Wooden Round Shield
- Great Axe.  Likely a bearded one.
- Perhaps a throwing weapon of some description?
- Mail over boiled leather, conical steel helm.

Steppe Horseman
Now are we talking Sarmatian or more Hunnic? Cause there's a big difference.

Stay tuned!

[Jubal]

Hells to the yes! The concept of deadliest warrior is a bit of a misguided idea of course - most of the greatest armies were deadly due to their abilities at formation fighting, and so 1 on 1 match ups favour some fighting styles which weren't the most effective on a battlefield.

I'd like to see a steppe cavalryman versus a Saxon housecarl though, as a matchup suggestion.

[Phoenixguard09]

Awesome! That's certainly an interesting match there.

I agree completely Jubal with why Deadliest Warrior is a bit... stupid. It's entertaining of course but... stupid.   For instance the Spartan and Ninja episode was so full of armadillo.... And the Centurion vs the Rajput.... I'll stop now, it hurts to think about the misinformation.

So back on topic, Steppe Horseman vs Saxon Huskarl/Huscarl/Housekarl/Housecarl.

First we need to determine where exactly and from what point in history these warriors are from. Next, we need to fill four slots for each with what weaponry they'd use. Limitations with the M&B engine mean that arrows and shields count. In addition to this, what sort of armour would our combatants possess and how proficient would they be?

Let's see people, what can we come up with?

[Jubal]

Okay, if we assume the housecarl is fairly wealthy:

He'd have a suit of chainmail, and probably a helmet. If he's from the later era we can look at the Bayeux tapestry - the English are shown with much the same helms as the Normans. In terms of weaponry, an oval or round shield, shortish sword, and a two-handed single headed axe seem to be the way to go. In terms of proficiencies, very high on the twohanders with fairly high strength. Probably decent sprinting as well, and from experience of shield-wall fighting as well I'd expect a high shield skill.

[Gen_Glory]

dont forget tough leather under the chainmail
I think for a hurscarl we'd have to choose between shield-wall (with sword and shield) or two handed axe

[Phoenixguard09]

The typical huscarl is a sword and boards-man with chain over leather. Would you guys also consider throwing spears? Or perhaps throwing axes? Did the Franks have huscarls?

So far we have:

Late-era Huscarl
- Nordic Arming Sword (I hate Oakeshott typology. It's a major pain the ass, so I'm not gonna bother)
- Large Wooden Round Shield
- Great Axe? Depending on where the Huscarl's from it would likely be of the bearded variety.
- Perhaps a throwing weapon of some description?
- Mail over boiled leather, conical steel helm.

Steppe Horseman
Now are we talking Sarmatian or more Hunnic? Cause there's a big difference.

[Jubal]

For the Saxon huscarls, it was the greataxes that other nations were really worried about. Shield walls were for the fyrd: the best huscarls were there to take down enemy horsemen (a greataxe, correctly wielded, could reputedly cut through a horse and its rider in one go). And yeah, we're talking bearded axes I think.

[Phoenixguard09]

Alright then. I think we'd better give him a shield though or else that horse-archer is gonna rip through him like a hot knife through a small steak, expertly seared with just a little seasoning.... I'm absolutely starving. And I want a steak.

So what about this Steppe Horseman? Where from, what period?

May I suggest the typical Hunnic horseman of about 400 AD?