163 replies to this topic

[Free Northman]

Sandor is possibly the greatest living warrior in Westeros - with the original Jaime Lannister, Barristan Selmy and the Mountain possibly being in the same category.

Bronn is a common sellsword, who Tyrion happened to pick up at the Inn at the Crossroads.

Unless you think there is a sellsword in every random inn that can stand against Sandor Clegane, then you cannot seriously suggest that Bronn has a snowball's chance in hell against Clegane.

The TV series made it seem like they are even remotely in the same league, which they are not.

Ser Vardis Egan was an honorable old knight who insisted on following imparctical protocols of honour against Bronn. Sandor Clegane has no such weakness, and will fight every bit as dirty as Bronn.

Not that he will need it. The Hound would kill Bronn in a matter of moments.

[Arkash]

Totally agree with Free Northman !

[Daidalos]

Free Northman, on 11 June 2012 - 06:33 AM, said:

Bronn is a common sellsword, who Tyrion happened to pick up at the Inn at the Crossroads.

Unless you think there is a sellsword in every random inn that can stand against Sandor Clegane, then you cannot seriously suggest that Bronn has a snowball's chance in hell against Clegane

Utterly specious reasoning. If I happen to think that Bronn can stand up to Sandor Clegane, that means that I have to say that Tyrion was lucky when he met Bronn, not that there's an exceptionally skilled sellsword in every random inn. This is of course premised on the assumption that Sandor Clegane is a great swordsman and that great swordsmen generally are rare, especially among the common-born. Nevertheless, low probability events occur all the time in real life, so why the hell would they never occur in fiction, where the author can use loaded dice to serve some narrative function?

For the record, I think Sandor Clegane is the superior fighter.

[Lady Sansa Stark]

Sandor would beat anyone as far as I'm concerned. I'm pretty biased. Very much biased, indeed.

[StarkSupporter]

sumpthy, on 11 June 2012 - 06:13 AM, said:

Does Bronn have time to plan?

Bronn is now Batman?

[Free Northman]

Daidalos, on 11 June 2012 - 07:10 AM, said:

Utterly specious reasoning. If I happen to think that Bronn can stand up to Sandor Clegane, that means that I have to say that Tyrion was lucky when he met Bronn, not that there's an exceptionally skilled sellsword in every random inn. This is of course premised on the assumption that Sandor Clegane is a great swordsman and that great swordsmen generally are rare, especially among the common-born. Nevertheless, low probability events occur all the time in real life, so why the hell would they never occur in fiction, where the author can use loaded dice to serve some narrative function?

For the record, I think Sandor Clegane is the superior fighter.

Actually, if Bronn is a better warrior than Sandor, then there is one of two possibilities to consider:

1. That there is a random sellsword in every second inn that can match the greatest warrior in Westeros.

2. That Tyrion is just amaaaazingly lucky to happen to be in the one inn in Westeros where the one random sellsword who is a better fighter than the reputed greatest warrior in Westeros happens to be having a drink at that particular time.

Considering the two above options, option 1 is infinitely more probable than option 2.

So my reasoning is quite sound, from a statistical perspective.

Edited by Free Northman, 11 June 2012 - 07:34 AM.

[keelhaul]

Free Northman, on 11 June 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

Actually, if Bronn is a better warrior than Sandor, then there is one of two possibilities to consider:

1. That there is a random sellsword in every second inn that can match the greatest warrior in Westeros.

2. That Tyrion is just amaaaazingly lucky to happen to be in the one inn in Westeros where the one random sellsword who is a better fighter than the reputed greatest warrior in Westeros happens to be having a drink at that particular time.

Considering the two above options, option 1 is infinitely more probable than option 2.

So my reasoning is quite sound, from a statistical perspective.

Jesus Christ, terrible reasoning.

[Balintos]

Sandor would easily defeat Bronn in a fair fight. But Bronn would never be so stupid to fight fairly against Sandor.

[Balintos]

Free Northman, on 11 June 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

Actually, if Bronn is a better warrior than Sandor, then there is one of two possibilities to consider:

1. That there is a random sellsword in every second inn that can match the greatest warrior in Westeros.

2. That Tyrion is just amaaaazingly lucky to happen to be in the one inn in Westeros where the one random sellsword who is a better fighter than the reputed greatest warrior in Westeros happens to be having a drink at that particular time.

So my reasoning is quite sound, from a statistical perspective.

3. Bronn is a better fighter than the reputed greatest warrior in Westeros and he can follow the smell of money.

[Mr.Blonde]

For all his hype, I think Sandor is an underachiever. In both of his fights he fought sub-par opponents and in both of his fights he barely came out alive.

Free Northman, on 11 June 2012 - 06:33 AM, said:

Ser Vardis Egan was an honorable old knight who insisted on following imparctical protocols of honour against Bronn.

Such as?

[sumpthy]

Mr.Blonde, on 11 June 2012 - 08:06 AM, said:

For all his hype, I think Sandor is an underachiever. In both of his fights he fought sub-par opponents and in both of his fights he barely came out alive.

What fights are you talking about? In the course of the books he fights The Mountain, a bunch of guys at the Blackwater, Beric Dondarrion (which he wins despite a flaming sword), a few Freys and Polliiver/The Ticker which is two on one for most of it and Sandor is drunk which is the only one he came out of 'barely alive'.

[The Scum]

Sandor I think for the win here, not by birthright alone would you get to be bodyguard to the Lanister's, but it would not be a fight he would take lightly. I think Bronn is good enough not to be walked over and to capitalise on any opportunity that may present itself however.

My odds would be:
Sandor 70% - 30% Bronn

[NickSnow]

Pffft. The Hound would win easiy.

Many people believe that the Hound is slow, but that is not so. In FFC, Jaime keeps thinking about how much he respects the Hound's fighting skills. He keeps referring to his speed and agility, as well as his brute force. I think the Hound would even have a chance against pre-stump Jaime.

Bronn is just a sellsword. Meh

[Ice Turtle]

Didn't Thoros beat Sandor few times?

[sumpthy]

Ice Turtle, on 11 June 2012 - 09:18 AM, said:

Didn't Thoros beat Sandor few times?

If he did, there's a very obvious advantage Thoros has when he faces Sandor.

[LordDolorousEdd]

I would say sandor because bronn couldn't do his no armour dance thing.

[Dolorous Ali]

Sandor, obviously. Though if without armor, then I'm not so sure. Being quick is a very important advantage when you don't have armor.

Edited by Dolorous Ali, 11 June 2012 - 09:51 AM.

[Gingerly Grumkin]

First of all Bronn was introduced to the books when he killed Ser Vardis Egen, the captian of Jon Arryn's guards, who I'm sure knew how to swing a sword. But you say Bronn will lose because he's just a sellsword? Lol! So what does that mean because he didn't swear an oath he can't fight as well as others? Ok... fine whatever, the knights are the strongest.... is Sandor a knight?

Anyways Bronn is a sellsword and as we know sellswords will kill for you, but they won't die for you... yet Bronn said this about Sandor's stronger brother

Quote

Bronn shrugged. "You once told me that if anyone ever asked me to sell you out, you'd double the price."
Yes. "Is it two wives you want, or two castles?"
"One of each would serve. But if you want me to kill Gregor Clegane for you, it had best be a damned big castle."

So, there you go. Bronn would kick that dog's ass

Edited by Monsieur LeDauphin Grumkin, 11 June 2012 - 09:56 AM.

[Bourne]

Free Northman, on 11 June 2012 - 07:34 AM, said:

Actually, if Bronn is a better warrior than Sandor, then there is one of two possibilities to consider:

1. That there is a random sellsword in every second inn that can match the greatest warrior in Westeros.

2. That Tyrion is just amaaaazingly lucky to happen to be in the one inn in Westeros where the one random sellsword who is a better fighter than the reputed greatest warrior in Westeros happens to be having a drink at that particular time.

Considering the two above options, option 1 is infinitely more probable than option 2.

So my reasoning is quite sound, from a statistical perspective.

That's quite possibly the most illogical statement I've seen on these forums.

And I don't understand how being a sellsword is a blight on his ability. "The man kills for a living? Well then naturally he must be a terrible fighter."

Also considering it's a book, where the laws of chance don't apply, Tyrion being at the inn at the same time as one of the greatest sellswords in Westeros is very likely.

I should add that Jaime is the greatest Warrior in Westeros.


But as to the original question, I think it's essentially a tossup.

Sandor is one of the most skilled Warriors in Westeros, no question. He's also got a size advantage. But Bronn is quicker and is also one of the smartest fighters we've seen. He's a student of swordplay, as well as being utterly fearless.

Its one of those fights were it'd come down to what they had for breakfast, or some other random issue. If I had to pick I'd give a slight edge to Sandor, he might win 55 times out of 100. But as you don't get a second chance in a fight like that, it's pretty much even odds.

[Istari]

The Hound. He has virtually every advantage.