Title says it all! I would like help creating a female knight character. I have a vague idea of what she might wear etc. but not much else x.x I figured something like this.
what do you guys think? really just any help would be nice. I rarely dive into anything besides sci-fi so...yeah.
Thanks!
what do you guys think? really just any help would be nice. I rarely dive into anything besides sci-fi so...yeah.
Thanks!
With all the fantasy rp on the site I figured someone might be able to help xD
You probably won't like my answer too much because I tend to be a huge realist when it comes to this sort of thing, but it looks like there are a lot of armorless targets to strike with that style, primarily in the shoulders and thighs (especially those thighs--major artery there, good chance of ugly injuries if there's not something under that cloth).
...and of course, she needs a helmet, but you already know that, I reckon!
That being said, yes, this is fantasy land, and that armor could technically work. Maybe. let me see if I can hunt down some smarter people for you...
...and of course, she needs a helmet, but you already know that, I reckon!
That being said, yes, this is fantasy land, and that armor could technically work. Maybe. let me see if I can hunt down some smarter people for you...
Knights are one of the finest traditional character archetypes, with some of the most involved and loving use in literature! I love knights, and I'm delighted that you chose to make one for your first serious fantasy character.
There's all sorts of knights, but in general, there are a few pillars of the concept that are usually pretty consistent:
(Fun fact: Female knights are addressed as 'Dame' rather than 'Sir', and may hold the distinction of being a Lady, in the way that some male knights are Lords.)
(Other fun fact: the act of one knight challenging another over a matter of honor is called "throwing down the gauntlet"--that's because this is literally what the challenging knight would do: take off his or her gauntlet and cast it at the feet of their intended opponent!)
Of course, as you have astutely surmised, a big part of a knight is also the armor she chooses to wear! Here's a couple of cool places to get some ideas for practical armor that still looks good on ladies:
http://womenfighters.tumblr.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/daeruin/real-women-in-real-armor/
Good luck with the character! I hope she's a success and that you find many adventures to play her in!
There's all sorts of knights, but in general, there are a few pillars of the concept that are usually pretty consistent:
1) Noble blood: They are always nobles; if they are somehow not noble, something extraordinary happened to waive the laws of their land, and this should be given serious consideration if applied to your character.
2) Lawful morality: Whether or not they have noble blood, they are often of very noble character--yes, even the evil ones! A knight will generally define his or her morality rather rigidly through a code. The actual chivalric code that was used by the great knights of the middle ages is a wonderful place to start; the old French knights in particular represent some of the finest examples of the truly archetypal knight. It's worth noting that historical knights were almost all Catholic, and religion and their loyalty to their religion often played a very strong role in who they were and how they acted. (This is where the idea of the paladin, the holy knight, comes from.)
3) Loyal and focused: A knight always has a cause. This will generally be working under the order of a ruler or a lord as an elite soldier in an army out of respect and loyalty for king and country. Knights make wonderful warriors, guards, and escorts.
4) Horse-mounted fighters: Most knights are cavalry--that is, they ride a steed into battle. In real world history, this was always a finely bred warhorse, but in fantasy you might decide to pick some other creature instead!
5) Not 100% perfect: Knights are great, but because they're so great, they're susceptible to certain flaws. The old French knights took their honor so seriously that it bordered on ridiculousness--i.e. challenging other knights to single combat because one insulted another's horse. Common character flaws for a knight include arrogance, pomp, overconfidence, snobbery and disdain. On the flip side, knights are often known for the virtues of charity, compassion, courage, loyalty, strength, justice, honor and fortitude.
2) Lawful morality: Whether or not they have noble blood, they are often of very noble character--yes, even the evil ones! A knight will generally define his or her morality rather rigidly through a code. The actual chivalric code that was used by the great knights of the middle ages is a wonderful place to start; the old French knights in particular represent some of the finest examples of the truly archetypal knight. It's worth noting that historical knights were almost all Catholic, and religion and their loyalty to their religion often played a very strong role in who they were and how they acted. (This is where the idea of the paladin, the holy knight, comes from.)
3) Loyal and focused: A knight always has a cause. This will generally be working under the order of a ruler or a lord as an elite soldier in an army out of respect and loyalty for king and country. Knights make wonderful warriors, guards, and escorts.
4) Horse-mounted fighters: Most knights are cavalry--that is, they ride a steed into battle. In real world history, this was always a finely bred warhorse, but in fantasy you might decide to pick some other creature instead!
5) Not 100% perfect: Knights are great, but because they're so great, they're susceptible to certain flaws. The old French knights took their honor so seriously that it bordered on ridiculousness--i.e. challenging other knights to single combat because one insulted another's horse. Common character flaws for a knight include arrogance, pomp, overconfidence, snobbery and disdain. On the flip side, knights are often known for the virtues of charity, compassion, courage, loyalty, strength, justice, honor and fortitude.
(Fun fact: Female knights are addressed as 'Dame' rather than 'Sir', and may hold the distinction of being a Lady, in the way that some male knights are Lords.)
(Other fun fact: the act of one knight challenging another over a matter of honor is called "throwing down the gauntlet"--that's because this is literally what the challenging knight would do: take off his or her gauntlet and cast it at the feet of their intended opponent!)
Of course, as you have astutely surmised, a big part of a knight is also the armor she chooses to wear! Here's a couple of cool places to get some ideas for practical armor that still looks good on ladies:
http://womenfighters.tumblr.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/daeruin/real-women-in-real-armor/
Good luck with the character! I hope she's a success and that you find many adventures to play her in!
That is a FANTASTIC roundup of the knight archetype! Thanks Wizard! +1ing what he said. 
Did somebody say armor!?
That armor, as fantasy armor, is basically valid--but then, any kind of armor is better than no armor at all. It does have open areas that would normally be covered in a combat situation, but knights didn't wear full armor all the time. When they did it was a rather gross affair, since they would often go to the bathroom in their armor if they had to. Perhaps this is the character's formal-but-non-combat armor. Knights were generally wealthy landowners, so there wouldn't be much reason for a knight to go into combat without being more heavily armored than this--they could afford to be very well outfitted. There's also no reason that a woman would wear different armor than a man. It might be SLIGHTLY differently tailored around the bust and waist, but for the most part, no big changes.
That armor, as fantasy armor, is basically valid--but then, any kind of armor is better than no armor at all. It does have open areas that would normally be covered in a combat situation, but knights didn't wear full armor all the time. When they did it was a rather gross affair, since they would often go to the bathroom in their armor if they had to. Perhaps this is the character's formal-but-non-combat armor. Knights were generally wealthy landowners, so there wouldn't be much reason for a knight to go into combat without being more heavily armored than this--they could afford to be very well outfitted. There's also no reason that a woman would wear different armor than a man. It might be SLIGHTLY differently tailored around the bust and waist, but for the most part, no big changes.
What do you think so far? Suggestions? advice..anything o.o
Looking good so far! A great place to start adding detail is working out where her very intriguing titles have come from. You might also consider the history that led her to follow her goddess and/or become a knight in the first place, in the process detailing where she's come from and--just as important!--where she's going so far as her personal goals go.
Wizard wrote:
3) Loyal and focused: A knight always has a cause. This will generally be working under the order of a ruler or a lord as an elite soldier in an army out of respect and loyalty for king and country. Knights make wonderful warriors, guards, and escorts.
Of course, this is all assuming realism is in play. If not, traditional fantasies do tend to view knights almost wholly this way.
You are correct, of course! That is why I used the word "generally". Certainly, knights with loyalties that laid solely with money or even themselves were not unheard of, even in fantasies. Less wholesome causes are often the driving forces behind the much more uncommon neutral or villainous knights.
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