A fellow brother knight! And a period I know quite a bit about too.
I'd say looking at the one photo I have some words of encouragement and critique:
First off, looking at your photo and avatar, I must say it is a great looking kit thus far!
My one real critique would be to hide your aventail/coif mantle. Since you have your helmet on, I don't know which one it is. But, period they had a full hauberk that had integral mail mittens and an integral mail coif. By having the mantle sticking out from your surcoat, it separates the continuity and the belief that it could be one piece.
I'm impressed with your Cross. A lot of people tend to go towards the later period Maltese Cross for earlier kits when this cross you're wearing is arguably better in the mid 13th century.
I also like how you're wearing a sleeveless surcoat. By about 1240 or so, the Pope granted the Holy Orders the ability to wear them so as not to impede their effectiveness in battle.
I also like your shield, both the color and the style choice. The picture doesn't quite show the shield right, but your avatar does. Some may argue a modified kite would be more appropriate but the traditional kite is so iconic it's hard not to go with it. Well done on the kite being acceptable for your combat rules! Too bad there isn't a way to get the shield a bit curved though, but such are the ways of the game.
I'm still trying to figure out my hands, we use live steel, and I really appreciate my hands, so I'm probably going to have to use some form of anachronism.
There are minor issues depending on how far you'd like your depth to go, but hands down, a great foundation none-the-less. A better sword belt, a woven belt underneath that as well wouldn't hurt. Maybe some Pater Noster beads hanging down as an accessory too. Also, if you're running around with a kite shield, it may be good to make a ventail of sorts for your coif if you don't already have one. I believe those started to go away when the great helms really kicked off, like the one you're wearing, so you could go either way. Also, as much as I too love that helm, I believe the brass trim is deemed "excessive in the eyes of the Lord" according to our Rules, but I may also be wrong on that as I'm still doing more research into period documents. But usually reenactors of the Holy Orders tend to stray away from the brass trim. It's a shame I know, but such is the cost of taking the Oaths. You could also work on getting your kit underneath your surcoat and mail more appropriate if you wish: aketon, gambeson, tunic, braies and hose. I'm not sure if you have those, forgive me if I'm mistaken. Your kit doesn't look quite as "poofed up" like mine when I have all the padded garments on.
Again, all of those though, are so minor in the grand scheme of things and where most people would look at you. Most people would see the helm, the black surcoat and white cross, and then wonder why the red shield
and THAT is something to already be proud of.
Well done on your kit good Brother, well done.
If you need any help with anything I talked about, please by all means ask. I've been researching for quite a while the Knights Templar, the Crusades, and the Holy Orders in general. I may be a "rival brother," but that doesn't mean we can both help each other in looking our very best!
YIS
B. Patricius
