My players have successfully become landed knights. They need to start dressing and acting like that. Harn Marnor gives the costs for maintaining the appropriate lifestyle. But what are the one-time "start-up"costs? They have good armor (mail) and they are taking over an existing so assume the costs are mostly a warhorse and cloths? How many sets of cloths? They are nobles now, but this still isn't modern times, so maybe 3 plus one for special occasions?

Good questions.

Besides the armour and weapons, warhorse, riding horses ... I have no idea.

But I don't think they need to own so many outfits just because they are noble, but the response from other nobles if not dress appropriate might be bad.

I guess you have an outfit for each type of event you participate in. An outfit for fiests, one for hunting, one for battles (when you don't fight), at least.

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"Corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur" - Tacitus
Fenhorn's Hârnpage

I would use the Household article, and let them set the spending level. Consider the annual cost the initial setup cost and the level of opulence they choose is where they start. And if they choose poorly, their fellow knights will treat them accordingly.

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The Melderyn Campaign

Don't forget registering arms costs. (Not sure what they are...others here will no doubt help )

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Plots and schemes are the same thing..

Oh Peter, how could you forget the 5,000d cost of a coat of arms. It practically screams out, "How do I pay for this thing?" It also implies the need for financial assistance from your liege or an installment plan from the College of Heralds.

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...and I'm not dead yet...

My players start of as Knights as per OGT or know their lot....I have no truck with this modern new world fascination with social mobility....too much Dickens if you ask me

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Plots and schemes are the same thing..

Required 'one time costs" = Zero.

Yep, zero. Plenty of source material makes it clear there are knights out there that are broke or near broke. They are still knights. They might even have good reputations (although part of that reputation would include the word "impoverished".......). This could apply even to "landed" knights.

Being poor is forgivable. HOWEVER, should the knight in question have money, he would be EXPECTED to spend it on certain things.

WILLFULLY not spending 'correctly' and being UNABLE to spend 'correctly' are not the same.

Items high on the "to pay for" list would include:
--Registering with the Heralds (One time fee)
--Suitable clothes for Court (Initial outlay one time, but on going fee.)
--Suitable clothes for Retainers (Squire? Servents?) (Initial outlay one time, but on going fee.)
--Showing up to Court(s)
--Entertaining local gentry
--Proper titheing
--Proper management of the fief
--etc

Key Point:
Only outright enemies or idiots will make a big deal about the new knight not spending beyond his means. Having said that, if the new knight REFUSES to spend income he is BELIEVED to have 'appropriately', that would reflect badly. (The player wants to save 'fast' for new Azadmere made armor, rather than on expenses at Court....)

Most were probably the sons of knights using the Clan Coat of Arms at 1st or 2nd generation from the Head of The Clan, Clan Coat of Arms Holder unless they were squired with a Baron or Earl. Most Bachelor Knights (Medium Horse) make 10 - 12L a year if paid a wage like a mercenary or soldier plus mount costs. If using Kind that is 60d to 72d a month in coin for a Bachelor Knight.

5,000 d for a Personal Coat of Arms so children and grandchildren of knights will have a Coat of Arms to wear. IMO it would often be similar to original coat of arms (Cadet Branch) easy way to show political blood alliance. Just because someone recognizes you with a heraldry check does not mean they know who you are related to. Cadet branch helps jog their memory (Ounce of Prevention).

Probably easiest to just hire a Bonded Master Clothier unless there are more than 10 Nobles being dressed and set aside some acreage or funds to purchase cloth for the Clothier to make outfits unless that is a detail you and your players enjoy.

Hiring trustworthy bonded masters like a cleric or herald or a relative preferable single if you want to manage costs (Single person household is cheaper than the five member household at 8L for a child and 10L for the average gentle persons with a mount in kind. They can manage your manor while you are away.

Consider a Dog Boy and or Falconer if your knight is a hunting enthusiast or a Priest if he is particularly devout. A Master Lexigrapher can be nice if he is of a scholarly bent for making illuminated books for gifts along with a personal library. An Ostler for better horses. A Bonded Master Innkeeper if your Knight is a gourmet or a wine enthusiast.

If there is money to burn there are probably relatives that can be supported.