Pirates vs Ninjas.
So today, the age-old debate on the superiority of pirates or ninja came into sharp perspective. I decided to apply my mind to the question in a moment of boredom and provide, once and for all, a truly definitive answer.
Let's start with the basics: numbers.
As with any battle, mustering more forces than your opponent is a good start to a solid victory. An average pirate raider carried a crew of between 100 and 200 persons at the start of the voyage, with those numbers being reduced over time due to pirate battles, sea battles, and scurvy. Ninja, when going on a group mission, would work in groups of about 50 or less. While the initial numbers here look pretty straightforward, ninja had fewer extra-operational casualties than pirates, so, assuming that the pirates and the ninjas were to meet mid voyage, the pirates would have lost roughly half of their total strength - down to 50-100 men, while the ninja would, likely, have not lost any as a result of better discipline and better eating habits and cleanliness. This improvement would also mean that the ninja in fighting form would be in better shape than his pirate counterparts. Even still: with a 2:1 man advantage, pirates win the first round.
Pirates 1, Ninja 0.
Arms:
A typical pirate ship carries cannons, however these are no good against personnel on the ship, or when the ship's personnel are on land, and can, therefore, be discounted. Their primary weapons were: cutlasses and pistols - single shot. Ninja traditionally carried the Japanese sword brace consisting of katana and wakizashe, as well as assorted bladed ranged weapons such as shurikens (throwing stars) and kunai (cool throwing knives). The katana, because of it's superior design and craftsmanship than your typical pirate cutlass, dominates the melee category. While the pistols in the pirates arsenal may even the game on the surface, in reality, because of the period technology, the pistols were highly innacurate, and only good for one shot due to an exceptionally slow reload time. The shurikens and kunai have an equivalent accurate distance to the pistoles, however have a far slower reload time, and can also be poisoned, thus creating better effectiveness than the pistol shot. Again, the ranged category goes to the ninja. As for hand to hand - come on, they're ninja.
Pirates 1, Ninja 1
Tactics:
The traditional pirate tactics were to basically assault enemy shipping with cannon from range to damage the enemy cannon and hull, close with the enemy ship, and simply overwhelm their opponents with numbers and ferocity. Ninja are trained to assault an enemy position using stealth, and to dispach any enemy troops they come into contact with quickly and quietly. Pirate tactics are effective, however they can be defended against. If you don't see the ninja coming, you can't stop them. Stealth wins over brute force any day.
Pirates 1, Ninja 2
Transportation:
Pirates sailed around in large brigs-of-war, with cannons. Ninja rode horses with bows and arrows. Cannons take bows any day of the week.
Pirates 2, Ninja 2
Tradition:
Pirates have a tradition of rape, pilliage, and general villianry. It was not uncommon for a pirate ship to dock for repairs and restock, and, after a friendly exchange with the city, they would sack it for fun. Ninja are assassins (murderers), however that aside, held to the code of bushido - which means that they were, in fact, quite civilized when they weren't killing people. In a score of civility, the ninja win.
Pirates 2, Ninja 3.
Final: from a practical, war-making perspective, ninja beat pirates. The fact that ninjas are cooler is secondary. In case you were ever wondering what would happen if a pirate fleet and a battalion? of ninja went to war - now you know.
Let's start with the basics: numbers.
As with any battle, mustering more forces than your opponent is a good start to a solid victory. An average pirate raider carried a crew of between 100 and 200 persons at the start of the voyage, with those numbers being reduced over time due to pirate battles, sea battles, and scurvy. Ninja, when going on a group mission, would work in groups of about 50 or less. While the initial numbers here look pretty straightforward, ninja had fewer extra-operational casualties than pirates, so, assuming that the pirates and the ninjas were to meet mid voyage, the pirates would have lost roughly half of their total strength - down to 50-100 men, while the ninja would, likely, have not lost any as a result of better discipline and better eating habits and cleanliness. This improvement would also mean that the ninja in fighting form would be in better shape than his pirate counterparts. Even still: with a 2:1 man advantage, pirates win the first round.
Pirates 1, Ninja 0.
Arms:
A typical pirate ship carries cannons, however these are no good against personnel on the ship, or when the ship's personnel are on land, and can, therefore, be discounted. Their primary weapons were: cutlasses and pistols - single shot. Ninja traditionally carried the Japanese sword brace consisting of katana and wakizashe, as well as assorted bladed ranged weapons such as shurikens (throwing stars) and kunai (cool throwing knives). The katana, because of it's superior design and craftsmanship than your typical pirate cutlass, dominates the melee category. While the pistols in the pirates arsenal may even the game on the surface, in reality, because of the period technology, the pistols were highly innacurate, and only good for one shot due to an exceptionally slow reload time. The shurikens and kunai have an equivalent accurate distance to the pistoles, however have a far slower reload time, and can also be poisoned, thus creating better effectiveness than the pistol shot. Again, the ranged category goes to the ninja. As for hand to hand - come on, they're ninja.
Pirates 1, Ninja 1
Tactics:
The traditional pirate tactics were to basically assault enemy shipping with cannon from range to damage the enemy cannon and hull, close with the enemy ship, and simply overwhelm their opponents with numbers and ferocity. Ninja are trained to assault an enemy position using stealth, and to dispach any enemy troops they come into contact with quickly and quietly. Pirate tactics are effective, however they can be defended against. If you don't see the ninja coming, you can't stop them. Stealth wins over brute force any day.
Pirates 1, Ninja 2
Transportation:
Pirates sailed around in large brigs-of-war, with cannons. Ninja rode horses with bows and arrows. Cannons take bows any day of the week.
Pirates 2, Ninja 2
Tradition:
Pirates have a tradition of rape, pilliage, and general villianry. It was not uncommon for a pirate ship to dock for repairs and restock, and, after a friendly exchange with the city, they would sack it for fun. Ninja are assassins (murderers), however that aside, held to the code of bushido - which means that they were, in fact, quite civilized when they weren't killing people. In a score of civility, the ninja win.
Pirates 2, Ninja 3.
Final: from a practical, war-making perspective, ninja beat pirates. The fact that ninjas are cooler is secondary. In case you were ever wondering what would happen if a pirate fleet and a battalion? of ninja went to war - now you know.