Looking for input on Noble Knight template

[Valadrim]

I have a player who is brand new to GURPS in my GURPS Birthright game. They are starting as young minor nobles and the game will follow their presumably meteoric rise to power, thus I wanted to make sure it can represent the courtly elements of nobility not just battlefield elements. The game is 175 points, I wanted this template to give him wiggle room to explore different concepts and a foundation to start from if he wants to ignore me and start looking at other ways to represent his character.

The background skills feel a bit tacked on, but with 10 unspent points of the 175 cap (not to mention quirks) it will let him pick some and develop them to more useful levels.

Do you all see anything that you think could use adjusting?


Anuirean Knight [165 points]

Attributes: ST 13 [30]; DX 12 [40]; IQ 10 [0]; HT 11 [10]
Secondary Characteristics: Damage 1d/2d-1; BL 34 lbs.; HP 14 [0]; Will 10 [0]; Per 10 [0]; FP 12 [0]; Basic Speed 6.00 [5]; Basic Move 6 [0].

Advantages: Born War Leader 1 [5]; Combat Reflexes [15]; Status 2 [5‡], and Wealth (Wealthy) [20]. ● Another 40 points chosen from among ST +1 to +4 [10/level], DX+1 or +2 [20 or 40], IQ +1 or +2 [20 or 40], HT +1 to +4 [10/level], HP +1 to +3 [2/level], Basic Speed +1 or +2 [20 or 40], Born War Leader 2-4 [5/level], Enhanced Parry 1 (One melee weapon skill) [5], Fearlessness [2/level], Fit [5] or Very Fit [15], Hard to Kill [2/level], Hard to Subdue [2/level], High Pain Threshold [10], Luck [15] or Extraordinary Luck [30], Patron [Varies], Penetrating Voice [1], Rapid Healing [5], Recovery [10], Signature Gear [Varies], Weapon Bond [1], or Weapon Master [20 to 40].

Disadvantages: -50 points chosen from among Bad Temper [-10*], Bully [-10*], Callous [-5], Code of Honor (Pirate's, Soldier's, or Chivalry) [-5, -10, or -15], Compulsive Behavior [-5*, -10*, or -15*], Duty (to Liege; 9 or less) [-5], Enemy [Varies], Greed [-15*], Honesty [-10*], Obsession (Slay awnsheghlien) [-5*], Odious Personal Habit (Pompous Noble, Social Climber, etc) [-5], One Eye [-15], Overconfidence [-5*], Selfish [-5*], Sense of Duty (Family or Domain) [-5 or -10], Truthfulness [-5*], or Vow [-5, -10, or -15].

Primary Skills: Bow (A) DX [2]-12 or Crossbow (E) DX+1 [2]-13; Brawling (E) DX+1 [2]-13; Riding (A) DX [2]-12; Savoir-Faire (High Society) (E) IQ [4]-12. One of Lance, Polearm, or Two-Handed Sword, all (A) DX+2 [8]-14. Also 12 points chosen from among Knife, Shield, both (E) DX+2 [4]-14; or Axe/Mace, Broadsword, Lance, Polearm, Spear, or Two-Handed Sword, all (A) DX+1 [4]-13; or Judo (H) DX [4]-12.

Secondary Skills: Area Knowledge (Southern Coast) (E) IQ+1 [2]-11; Leadership (A) IQ+1 [2]-11†; Strategy and Tactics, both (H) IQ [2]-10†; Intimidation (A) Will-1 [2]-10.

Background Skills: Current Affairs (regional) and First Aid both (E) IQ [1]-10; Heraldry (A) IQ-1 [1]-9. 4 points chosen from among Dancing (A) DX-1 [1]-11; Acting, Administration, Armoury (Body Armor), Armoury (Melee Weapons), Fast-Talk, Poetry, Politics and Public Speaking, all (A) IQ-1 [1]-9; Diplomacy, Law (Anuirean Feudal) and Theology (Any) all (H) IQ-2 [1]-8; Carousing (E) HT [1]-12; Sex Appeal (A) HT [1]-11; or Detect Lies (H) Per [1]-8.
* Multiplied for self-control number; see p. B120.
† +1 from Born War Leader
‡ Reduced cost due to free status from wealth.

[aesir23]

Looks good to me. The background skills all look very reasonable.

One point: I'd get rid of Brawling and replace it with Wrestling or make Judo mandatory.

Unarmed striking skills are worse than useless against armored opponents, and a Noble Knight is unlikely to get involved in tavern brawls.

Grappling skills, on the other hand, are VERY useful against opponents in heavy armor and were probably a part of every historical knights training regiment.