One of my player managed to capture Prince Galegantis during the battle this year (preventing Brown knight of the wilds from handling it).

They players knight has (rightfully) demanded ransom.

HOWEVER

I am not certain what this ransom would be. Since Arthur has now taken "his" lands, he is no longer landed and has no vassals/farmers to pay for his ransom, he is however still a prince. What would be a fitting ransom for him?

In these situations with royalty and ranking nobility it is usual for the king to purchase the prisoner for the captor. His ransom is not based only on the lands that he has, but also the lands that he ought to have.
I would guestimate Galegantis' ransom to be around £1000.
The king would probably pay £700-800.
This might seem like a rip off, but consider that the capturing knight would be expected to support his prisoner in the manner that he was used to--ie-like royalty. He would also have to wait for the ransom.
Instead, the king gives him more money that he would ever dream of having right away.
Also, the king might give him a holding that is worth that much money
But I don't think that it would be £800 worth of land
Land pays every year, over and over, and so an estate of £100-200 seems right.
See Book of Estate

I think I might have to lower it a bit, since I don't want the story to go way out of hand.

But I do think I'll go with the land. The player is after all looking to return his old ancestral land to himself, I think Arthur will promise to return the land to him.

Thanks for the advice!

Like Greg said, the usual thing is for the higher noble to 'buy' the captive.

In our campaign, the going rate is 50% of the ransom. The 'price' for land is 10-20 times the yearly income.

So in our campaign the PK could expect an estate in £50-100 range, making him a banneret. Often with his pals (other PKs) as vassals.

I'd agree with Greg - in straight cash terms then £700-£800

In modern day finance its called factoring your debts...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factoring_(finance)

Equally, i would say give them land (and title) instead of the straight cash.

Chris

Concerning a payment of gold or land

Most lords would prefer to pay the gold instead of make a land grant
The gold payment is a one-time thing, while land would be a (potentially) permanent loss

If land is the reward, lords would prefer to make it a lifetime gift
If it was a permanent grant, to heirs, it would be normal for them to make it for significantly less that a lifetime grant
because a grant is forever

Numbers:
£1000 Full Value of Ransom
£750 paid by the king to purchase the ransom
£100 annual value of land for a gift
£50 annual value of land for a grant

£50 is NOT a little money. It is enough to support a Rich lord and 4 household knights
(because a lord should be wary of granting away his land)

Concerning a payment of gold or land

Most lords would prefer to pay the gold instead of make a land grant
The gold payment is a one-time thing, while land would be a (potentially) permanent loss

If land is the reward, lords would prefer to make it a lifetime gift
If it was a permanent grant, to heirs, it would be normal for them to make it for significantly less that a lifetime grant
because a grant is forever

Numbers:
£1000 Full Value of Ransom
£750 paid by the king to purchase the ransom
£100 annual value of land for a gift
£50 annual value of land for a grant

£50 is NOT a little money. It is enough to support a Rich lord and 4 household knights
(because a lord should be wary of granting away his land)


This makes a lot of sense, thanks!

Considering the fact that Arthur is also going to actually use his knights to retake the land for the knight (it's a minor detour really, but still expensive). The Estate should be even smaller.

This is what I will do:
£1000 Full Value of Ransom
£750 paid by the king to purchase the ransom
£100 annual value of land for a gift
£50 annual value of land for a grant
£20-30 annual value of land for a grant, with knights helping to retake it

The land the PK is looking for is his ancestral land, that was a barony before (not any more) so the player will opt for the land in all ways he can.

Arthur will help him retake the old central manor for the estate and a bit of the surrounding lands. (An estate worth around £20-30, but requiring major renovation and rebuilding). If he also does well in the upcoming battle, the reward might be slightly higher. The land will be a grant. And he will not gain the baron-title (as arthur does not want to reinstate the barony, at least not yet).

Future generations might be able to reclaim more manors and make the estate larger, and even reclaim the title of Baron.