Mallus Darkblade versus Drizzt

[Cynical Cat]

Suppose Drizzt gets sucked to the Chill Land of Naggoroth by way of a portal accident. Out of sheer bad luck, Mallus Darkblade is riding through the same neck of the woods and decides to hunt him down and kill him.

Which twin curved blade wielding dark elf wins?

Both have their usually adventuring gear and animal companions.

Darkblade is a notoriously ruthless and cruel dark elf noble who is deadly even by druchii standards. He wears heavy armour, the twin swords of a high born, has a lance, and a repeating crossbow. His mount in the cold one spite, a big, nasty, draconic death machine.

Mallus and Spite

[Narsil]

I don't know much about Mallus, I'll admit.

But if there's one thing I know about Drizzt, it's that he's fast, very bloody fast. And capable of fighting in utter darkness, or with his eyes closed. I'd say Drizzt probably wins outright (if not instantly), the sheer fact that Drizzt can, and did, battle against and kill one thousand orcs is more than enough proof of that in my opinion.

But, admittedly, I know jack shit about his Druchii foe.

[Cynical Cat]

On what basis do you think Drizzt will win instantly? He's only good at killing large number of D&D style low level foes. Artemis Entreri doesn't pack plate armour (which is quite scimitar resistant) nor is mounted and doesn't have a steed that bites the heads off horses. Nor does he pack a repeating crossbow. And he gives Drizzt severe problems.

As I've said, even by dark elven standards, Mallus is a highly skilled opponent who easily butchers his lessers. By what mechanism is Drizzt going to overcome Mallus? Fighting in magical darkness doesn't really help him. He's blind too and Mallus and Spite are the ones wearing heavy armour, which becomes a much larger advantage if both fighters have their vision impared. Mallus and Spite and have the maneuverability advantage enabling them to quickly exit the darkness (which assumes Drizzt gets close enough to use it) and much more control of what range it takes place at.

[The Cleric]

What kind of terrain? Drizzt on flatlands/prarie probably gets pwned. But Drizzt in trees/mountain terrain? Probably rape him.

[Narsil]

On what basis do you think Drizzt will win instantly?

Ahem:

I'd say Drizzt probably wins outright (if not instantly), the sheer fact that Drizzt can, and did, battle against and kill one thousand orcs is more than enough proof of that in my opinion.

Mallus and Spite and have the maneuverability advantage enabling them to quickly exit the darkness (which assumes Drizzt gets close enough to use it) and much more control of what range it takes place at.

Since Drizzt is fully capable of level one ranger spells, I suppose the Entangle ability could give him a much-needed manoeuvrability advantage for a few precious seconds. Especially if Mallus is distracted with the vines, branches, etc.

[Cynical Cat]

One thousand orcs is nothing in D&D land. D&D orcs get owned by everyone with any HTH abilities above slight. His repeated lackluster performance against Artemis Entreri (a lightly armoured human with no magical abilities, an ideal foe for faerie fire-darkness-scimitar slice technique that Drizzt falls back on) is much more relevant. Mallus murders highly skilled dark elven swordsmen in numbers and less skilled opponents whole sale.

Terrain: cold forest. Note this is Darkblade's native terrain (well, along with nasty cities).

Entangle: a savable spell that doesn't even imobilize and has a small area of effect? Please. Its useful, but not equal to the advantage of being mounted, especially on a cold one (let alone Spite). He also has to get into range to use this, which means volleys of (probably poisoned) repeating crossbow bolts.

I'm not saying auto win here for Mallus (haven't voted yet even myself), but I'm not seeing good reasons to believe Drizzt will win.

[The Cleric]

Where are you getting that Artemis isn't a phenomenally skilled swordsman? He has the respect of Jarlaxle, who is an old Drow who has seen the best Menzo- has to offer. Drizzt (and Artemis for that matter) have consistently eaten through trained, skilled Drow opponents.

Drizzt is fast, capable, and incredibly quick on the uptake. He can engage seperate weapons with each of his scimtars and stay on top, and can also fight on reflex in absolute darkness. On horse, Mallus would probably be at a disatvantage, as Drizzt is far more manuverable than the horse. Dodge/hamstring anyone? And I'd take his lethal speed and wickedly sharp weapons over a slower opponent in plate mail anyday.

And don't forget Guen. Without Mallus knowing Guen's capabilities, that could be a nasty suprise at the whole "fade out to mist" thing.

[frigidmagi]

Cat Artemis is perhaps one of the best assassins to trod the Realms and Drizzt as flat out defeated him a number of times. However it should be noted that Drizzt tends to suffer twice his usual amount of angst when Artemis shows up.

As for the Orcs, fuck them. I'm pointing out that Drizzt has slaughtered at least a 100 Drow in his time. That takes skill.

As to why Drizzt could take on the betrayer, speed. Due to those fucking magic speed bracers on his ankles Drizzt will be able to close in and kill the mount, removing it from the combat quickly with those magic blades of his. In short, magic will likey decide this fight.

[Cynical Cat]

Cat Artemis is perhaps one of the best assassins to trod the Realms and Drizzt as flat out defeated him a number of times. However it should be noted that Drizzt tends to suffer twice his usual amount of angst when Artemis shows up.

As for the Orcs, fuck them. I'm pointing out that Drizzt has slaughtered at least a 100 Drow in his time. That takes skill.

As to why Drizzt could take on the betrayer, speed. Due to those fucking magic speed bracers on his ankles Drizzt will be able to close in and kill the mount, removing it from the combat quickly with those magic blades of his. In short, magic will likey decide this fight.

Ahh, finally reasons as opposed to flat declarations of victory. Excellent.

Artemis, is to put it bluntly, a cut rate Drizzt. He fights in the same style but lacks Drizzt's magic, speed, and and skill (although he's a close second). He makes up for it in dirty tricks. Malus wears heavy armour of a semi-magical material and has more than a foot of reach as well as elven reflexes, a much more unfavorable combination to drow using light slashing weapons than Entreri's easily sliced, lightly armoured flesh.

Both of them have racked up respectable kill rate versus skilled opponents. That's why I thought this would make an interesting versus.

I had completely forgotten about the bracers. But if he closes, that means he has to get inside Malus's reach (taller + mounted +swords and lances) to get at Spite, who is tough even by Cold One standards (and heavily armoured and poisonous). And Cold Ones, even ones that aren't Spite, are not something you want to be close too. If Drizzt can be hitting Spite, he'll be taking shots from Malus and Spite as well and that isn't good for a lightly armoured guy.

[Narsil]

If Drizzt can be hitting Spite, he'll be taking shots from Malus and Spite as well and that isn't good for a lightly armoured guy.

Since when is Mithral (or is it Adamantine now?) light in anything but weight? It's as tough as dragonscale but (weight-wise) as light as a feather.

Malus wears heavy armour of a semi-magical material and has more than a foot of reach as well as elven reflexes, a much more unfavorable combination to drow using light slashing weapons than Entreri's easily sliced, lightly armoured flesh.

Scimitars actually have about as much effective reach as Drizzt's longsword, and he's known for making a great amount of acrobatic stunts during his fights. He'd close the distance with the bracers of speed, and out-maneovre Mallus because he's not the one wearing heavy armour. For a race that favours speed over strength, (like Drizzt's) heavy armour is just a personal encumberment. And, if I'm not mistaken, Drizzt managed to fight his way through a section of the demonic outer planes during "The Halfling's Gem", so it's not as if he's only adept at facing humanoids and their ilk.

Drizzt is also a Ranger, and they are fighting in a freaking forest. Drizzt has a great advantage through environment and combat alone, and one of his Scimitars (Twinkle) grants him an armoured advantage. The mount itself is big, and an encumberment in the forest.

[Cynical Cat]

1) Speed is an advantage. Drizzt may have his bracers, but Malus is mounted.

Mithril plate armour is also an advantage. Malus has it (Warhammer equivalent to mithril). He isn't slow and his armour is really good and it barely slows him down. Scimitars do not perform well against plate, let alone mithril plate. Malus can take solid hits from Drizzt. The reverse does not apply.

Don't mistake D&D game mechanics for an accurate comparison of plate versus mail. Plate is heavier, but the weight is better destributed and the protection is vastly superior. Mobility wise, Malus isn't at a disadvantage for wearing his armour. And again, he is mounted. Drizzt is the one who will be running around, trying himself out and feeling the effects of wearing armour far more than Darkblade.

Drizzt's light mail (which is mithril) offers inferior protection against a foe armed with longswords, repeater crossbow, lance, and a cold one that can decapitate Drizzt in one bite. His armour doesn't suck, but it doesn't protect him like Malus's plate does.

2) The terrain is also Malus's native terrain, who doesn't suffer daylight problems. There isn't a lot of underbrush in that kind of forest and bears manage forests just fine.

3) I don't recall the outer planes being any part of The Halfling's Gem (although it has been years since I read it) and in any case its a red herring. State advantages that pertain to this battle, not vague references to events that may or may not have occured.

4) What properties does Twinkle possess that gives him an advantage? Don't allude to it, state them directly.

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

How do warhammer fantasy elf reactions/combat precog compare to their 40k cousin's? Because it'd be fairly nasty if Malus had say, Howling Banshee reflexes.

[Cynical Cat]

How do warhammer fantasy elf reactions/combat precog compare to their 40k cousin's? Because it'd be fairly nasty if Malus had say, Howling Banshee reflexes.

Not quite as obscene, but the high end (like Malus) have literally superhuman speed and skill.

[SirNitram]

If Drizzt can be hitting Spite, he'll be taking shots from Malus and Spite as well and that isn't good for a lightly armoured guy.

Since when is Mithral (or is it Adamantine now?) light in anything but weight? It's as tough as dragonscale but (weight-wise) as light as a feather.

Thank you for superlatives without quantification. I see I'm going to have to apply a hammer to you.

Mithral has the same thermal properties as steel(It has the same hit points per thickness), is only slightly superior against blows(5 points more hardness, which doesn't help against thermals) than steel, but weighs about half.

This is neither 'as tough as dragonscale' or 'as light as a feather'.

Malus wears heavy armour of a semi-magical material and has more than a foot of reach as well as elven reflexes, a much more unfavorable combination to drow using light slashing weapons than Entreri's easily sliced, lightly armoured flesh.

Scimitars actually have about as much effective reach as Drizzt's longsword, and he's known for making a great amount of acrobatic stunts during his fights. He'd close the distance with the bracers of speed, and out-maneovre Mallus because he's not the one wearing heavy armour. For a race that favours speed over strength, (like Drizzt's) heavy armour is just a personal encumberment. And, if I'm not mistaken, Drizzt managed to fight his way through a section of the demonic outer planes during "The Halfling's Gem", so it's not as if he's only adept at facing humanoids and their ilk.

Acrobatics makes good for those who know nothing about swordplay to masturbate to, but they are fatal mistakes in real combat against skilled foes. They open your defense up wide, inviting blows.

Rushing a man on a horse with a lance is a tactic known as 'Suicide via lance'.

Drizzt is also a Ranger, and they are fighting in a freaking forest. Drizzt has a great advantage through environment and combat alone, and one of his Scimitars (Twinkle) grants him an armoured advantage. The mount itself is big, and an encumberment in the forest.

You'd be amazed how many times people get trampled by mounts when in a forest or other confined area. When the mount is aggressive and carnivorous, this is only more likely. 'HE'S A RANGER! IN A FOREST!' This would only matter if a forest was his preferred terrain, but anyone familiar with him knows he's more at home in the Underdark.

Next time you post, post intelligently and with logic and reasons.

[Comrade Tortoise]

The mount itself is big, and an encumberment in the forest.

Even if Drizzt knew the environment, with that mount, he is screwed. While a horse might be restricted in a forested area in some circumstances, a therapod is not. That is a fast flexible animal that is capable of fighting back ferociously when drizzt gets close, which he will have to do in order to harm his target.

That tail makes rear attacks a no-go, and the teeth and claws make flanking difficult.

Also, a cimitar, even a magical one, just cant get through plate mail. They cant even usually get through chain.

A scimitar is a lighter slashing weapon, and it has to get through a steel plate, and probably chainmail underneath, depending on what style of armor Malus wears.

I am going to give you a newsflash. Swords are crap weapons against heavily armored opponents. That is because a sword cut wont even cut chainmail very easily, because the metal links bunch together and act like a solid plate of metal. You end up doing more damage though blunt force trauma than you do actually cutting your opponent.

If you want to take out someone in plate, you need armor iercing bodkins from a longbow or crossbow, fired at a distance of less than 30 meters, or you want a mace, hammer, pick, or poleaxe, none of which are posessed by Drizzt. There is a damn good reasons swords were used primarily as back up weapons in the middle ages, at least among knights, because they just werent effective against heavy armor.

A scimitar is not even designed in such a way that it can easily find the chinks, weaknesses or uncovered areas of a suit of plate.

[Cynical Cat]

To clarify Malus's armour, he is wearing blackenedd Ilthmar (yes, it is an anagram of mithril) over Ilthmar chain. Ilthmar is lighter and stronger than steel. Malus's entire harness weighs forty pounds.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Yeah, those scimitars just cant get through that.

[The Necrontyr Messenger]

This is neither 'as tough as dragonscale' or 'as light as a feather'.

I think he has mithral confused with Tolkien's mithril, which does have those properties - though Smaug indicates that dragonscale, in his case, is roughly equal to ten shields layed on top of each other, IIRC.