who would have won the battle, Renly or Stannis?

[Selina]

I don't care about that even slightly

Some of the nobles of westeros disagree, but this is a minor point anyway.

where directly told by Renly (and before you say he'd bias, Ned didn't disagree) that he's just a good military commander

Which is still more than anyone would say of Renly.

what Renly has going for him is he's not an insane teenage boy

Agreed, but neither is Stannis or anyone else opposing Joffrey.

his army isn't made up of Dothraki or wildlings

Again this is true for all current contenders for the throne of westeros. Daenerys isn't part of the current war and Mance Rayder doesn't give a damn about who sits on the iron throne. So what's your point in bringing this up as a plus for Renly ?

he's not just a good military commander like his brother (having set on the king's council), in other words he's the best of a bad lot

You do realize that Stannis sat on the small council, too, right ?

So Stannis is an accomplished soldier, has at least as much experience on the council as his brother (and given his age probably more) and actually seems to know what he is doing, while Renly just plays at war and thinks being popular makes him a good king. Any other arguments why Renly would be the better king ?

[slimjim]

Which is still more than anyone would say of Renly.

if that was true ned would have said

Agreed, but neither is Stannis or anyone else opposing Joffrey.

each of the things I listed where intended to mark Renly out as a good king taken all together not separately

Again this is true for all current contenders for the throne of westeros. Daenerys isn't part of the current war and Mance Rayder doesn't give a damn about who sits on the iron throne. So what's your point in bringing this up as a plus for Renly ?

Daenerys is contender from the audience's perspective and I'm talking about who I want to be king

You do realize that Stannis sat on the small council, too, right ?

I don't think we've ever bee told that

So Stannis is an accomplished soldier, has at least as much experience on the council as his brother (and given his age probably more) and actually seems to know what he is doing, while Renly just plays at war and thinks being popular makes him a good king. Any other arguments why Renly would be the better king ?

even if stannis sat on the small council his brother's comment implies it didn't prepare him for kingship very well

[Cold Fuzz]

Just to clarify: During Robert's reign, Stannis sat on the council as Master of Ships while Renly sat on the council as Master of Laws.

Renly doesn't have the kind of battle experience Stannis does. But he understands people better. Stannis would be good at winning the throne while Renly would've been better at keeping the throne.

[Shylodog]

I don't think we've ever bee told that

http://viewers-guide.hbo.com/game-of...nis-baratheon/

When you go to HBO's viewer guide, it explains it under Stannis's profile. One of those pesky things that you would generally refuse to believe, since you didn't catch it in the shows. Except that it's specifically there to help keep viewers properly informed about the characters in the series.

[Ser Scot A Ellison]

Stannis was on the Small Council. Who disputes that?

[Cold Fuzz]

Stannis was on the Small Council. Who disputes that?

Certainly not those of us who know his backstory.

[python490]

Stannis has the experience and is most probably a better military leader but often in war numbers do matter. Renly had the larger army if he was smart and didn't try to be the "hero" he should have won if they had battled. Stannis himself was worried about the larger force that Renly possessed. Stannis who is an experience warrior is worried then it is for good reason.