Viking vs. Samurai
Their decision: Samurai
My decision (1v1): Samurai - agree
My decision (war): Samurai
It's a close fight, but the samurai would win simply because of the bow. The yumi is extremely accurate and long ranged. Although the viking has chainmail and a shield that can stop arrows, his armor is incomplete. His face, neck, and legs are uncovered, and chainmail can be pierced by arrows in certain places. The spear throw is also very unreliable and short ranged, which is impossible to counter the yumi. In close combat, I believe that they're pretty much equal. The viking shield is the difference maker. Without it, the samurai would win hands down. In hand to hand combat, the ability to deflect an opponent's blows is a huge factor. However, the samurai's armor is much tougher and more advanced, and can also offer the same amount of protection. Aside from that, the samurai's weapons can also destroy the shield easily or render it useless. All things considered, since melee is pretty much the same, it's ultimately the bow that gives the samurai the advantage.
In a war of armies, the samurai would have an even greater advantage because massed arrows can easily destroy another army without reliable ranged weapons. As stated already, viking armor is incomplete and the shield doesn't cover everything. The more bows there are, the more that the advantage multiplies.
