The match has been set in the city of Markarth and each side is using fur amor with steel helmets. The weapon choices are iron axes, orcish swords, and imperial bows. There 5 battle mages on each side and 2 champions on each side.

Who Wins?

I'd say the crowd/audience wins. But on second thoughts, it's usually those who take the bets.

The imperials.

I would say the dragon wins. What self respecting dragon could pass up a free buffet like that? Honestly, even though nords are tough and resilient, there is no more fearsome a foe on the battlefield than an orc berserker.

ORCS!

Orcs indeed. Cannot ignore that berserk rage.

Orcs FTW!

The Silverbloods.

Just to make this fun ........this one is a Nord ........so ......Nord's Win .........giggles

This question is tantamount to trolling. We have Orc and Nord supporters in our ranks. Hopefully it won't erupt into all out war.


Adella likes King and doesn't want to hurt his feelings

How can my feelings be hurt when im saying the truth xD


Nooo its Borgakhs feelings you'd he hurting

Mannimarco

Equallly matched numbers and weapons? It's going to be Orcs. No question. I doubt there are that many Orcs in Skyrim to raise an army of them though, they seem to be marginal in numbers as in everything else.

Definitely orcs. It's enough for 1 orc to fart and half of the nords are dead. The other half can be handled by a single orc berserker.

Are we talking about gameplay or lore-wise?

For gameplay (PvP) I think there are too many factors to take into account. Player decisions on perks, armor, combat style will come into play.

For lore-wise, I'd say it's complicated. The Orcs and the Nords, both have martial prowess and yearning for battle in their cultural heritage.

The Orcs do have Berserker rage (though didn't the Nords also have something similar in Oblivion and earlier games, like Woad or something). The Orcs are very much a Sparta-like society: every orc is a fighter first and foremost and only the strongest survive and thrive. And their race's very existence is due mostly to their combat prowess and being able to defeat enemies, despite insurmountable odds. Physically they certainly seem to be the strongest and biggest, on average. They seem inclined to heavy armor.

The Nords, according to Oblivion's game cannon, have Woad, which gives them increased damage resistance (which is what a true berserker needs for the assault). On average, they don't seem to be as big or strong as orcs, but then again their society seems to be much more diverse, composed not just of fighters, but also bards, storekeeps, smiths, farmers, laborers, ect. But among the fighting class, the Nords, at least in game, do seem just as strong and competent as the Orcs. And the Nordic culture as a whole is steeped in the warrior mythos and honor totally revolves around conduct in combat. Nords also seem much more naturally inclined to two-handed weapons.

IMO if we take the best fighters from both sides, out of 100 fights, it would be 50 Orcish victories and 50 Nordic victories; I think the two are that equally matched. Nords are perhaps more likely to inflict greater damage (two-hander preference) while the Orcs are more likely to tank greater damage (armor preference). Orcish Beserk Rage sounds like a decisive advantage in theory, but in practice, a battle-tested Nord skilled in 2-handers would be able to deal with such a threat. Plus, why would it be easy for an Orc Beserker charge/battle to kill another Beserker? Nords are well known Beserkers in their own right according to the Tamriel lore (indeed the Nordic race is based off the real life Norse/Vikings which employed beserkers in battle) and the game itself (Nords had Woad in Obivion and Shouts in Skyrim which could force enemies to flee or stumble). It's like fighting fire with fire; it simply doesn't work.

Now, if we take the average of each race, Orcs would probably have the advantage, since there seem to be many more non-combatant roles in Nordic society compared to the Orcish society which seems focused almost purely on war fighting.

Are we forgetting the in game Nord advantage? No not Woad.....this is Skyrim not Oblivion. Nords have "BattleCry". A power scream so unsettling to any foe that for a few moments (30 sec) they flee in confused terror. Yes even Orcs!


The Nord army needs only stage their Battle Cries in successive order to keep all the Orcs running around for several minutes while grouped Nords chase them down and bury them.


Berserker Rage only works if you can get close enough to engage and you can't do that while fleeing in terror


QED

At first, I thought this was a new Warcraft single player game! It started out with Orcs vs Humans

I dunno, though... Does an Orc's rage counter a Nord's shout?

Nope.....Nord Battlecry is a top level fear spell in effect. Even enraged snowbears flee. But if ya wanna try it you'll need to find an npc Orc about to hit you with a power attack ....... Then scream BC into his face......he might just finish his already started power hit.....but then he's gonna run like his mommy is scolding him


Apologies to King here......who must be feeling very got at........sorry my friend.....I do not hate

Orcs ok ( Lydia does......she call them Orc filth and Orc scum......I bet she's not your follower)

No problem. Lydia will die next time I see her

Ooooooo No.....better still press Lydia into service......for an Orc


That's really gonna hurt


Wait.....what am I saying.....I love Lydia. Seriously when she folds her arms and gives me that hard stare I just go all gooey.

When Borgakh gives me her normal stares I go gooey. Such to the extent where I sometimes am dragged to bed

Yeah.....Orc women are pretty demanding like that......if they desire you....there is no choice in the matter. They are pretty strong too....a young lad like you would have no chance resisting Borgakh, even if you wanted to. Lie back and think of England......then prepare to be thoroughly ravaged


But then.....Nord ladies are tall and powerfully built too. Six foot one in flat shoes and can weild mace and shield all day long. Only a big rugged Nord guy could fend off such a strong woman. Well King.....we ain't big rugged Nord guys. It's no good trying to explain you got a headache or its hair wash night. If she wants it.....she's gonna TAKE it boy. Best just to go with the flow......her flow

Lucky...I don't want to resist (unless you tells me too, for fun) I love the idea of being ravaged xD (Damn my teenage body and mind)

But, Nord women aren't green and they dpn't have large teeth xD

So there's another outcome to consider. The ladies on each side start talking about how disappointing their men are, and the latter go off to the tavern to get drunk (which will of course perpetuate what the women are complaining about.)

Meanwhile the Forsworn arrive and take over.

Yeah.....but I know one special Nord lady who wants to bite my ear off ........and then if you look at Adella's picture.....tell me that's a woman who takes no for an answer