| zarx said: Vikings did actually use bows to soften up opponents before engaging in open battle, tho they considered it a less honourable way to kill an enemy than hand to hand combat. Add in shields to the Viking side and they would have the advantage in a war especially considering the two handed axes that can cut through bone and plate armour in kind. The Samurai sword on the other hand is designed for slicing and is not ideal for combating chain armour. One on one the samurai may have an advantage if the battle started at a long distance where he would have time to fire of multiple shots before the charging Viking reached him but assuming the one on one fight is a duel and they start in close proximity the bow becomes useless and the advantage goes to the blocking power of the shield and the crushing power of the axe and Viking sword both of which are adapt at combating even full plate armour. |
you're comparing that little shortbow they use to a 7 foot yumi? the range and accuracy are impossible to compare. the yumi would tear them to shreds. don't put too much stock on that viking shield. it's not enough to cover an entire body against a hail of arrows fired from such a long distance. again, arrows can pierce chainmail, there's no armor on the face, neck, and legs, and the shield is not big enough. if they do get close enough without suffering crazy damage (unlikely), they might be able to give the samurai a good fight. but you forget, samurai are trained and highly disciplined warriors that employ very good tactics in war while vikings were just savage berserkers who went into battle with just a 'charge' mindset. based on strategy alone, the samurai would win a war hands down.
and why would they start at close distance? that's wishful thinking. of course they have to start at a long distance. that's the essence of the duel. all the tools of each warrior should be available to them. therefore, in the normal case, the samurai would win automatically because of the bow. hand to hand is debateable. that shield can be destroyed very quickly.
