This is a question by the book (one can always make this stuff up). This is particularly important because this year one of my PK's manor will be raided / under siege for story purposes during his absence.

None of the Knight / Wife NPCs seem to begin with the Siege skill. Is this correct?

What happens when the attackers siege the manor (which is well defended with a moat, palisade and stone hall)? They automatically win or is the DV bonus added to 0 siege skill of the defenders?

Book of Knights & Ladies gives the starting skills of Siege for Cymric Male (2) and Female (5).

For older edition NPCs (for whom that skill didn't exist), I'd simply use Battle/2 for Men (fits most of Uther Period NPCs in GPC, who have both Battle and Siege, reasonably well) and Battle for Females (upping it to 5 if lower than that).

(Actually, in our campaigns, we use straight Battle for Sieges, too, not bothering with the additional skill, but that is a houserule.)

But yes, even with a skill of 0, you would, by GPC rules, do 0+DV for the roll.

Book of Knights & Ladies gives the starting skills of Siege for Cymric Male (2) and Female (5).
For older edition NPCs (for whom that skill didn't exist), I'd simply use Battle/2 for Men (fits most of Uther Period NPCs in GPC, who have both Battle and Siege, reasonably well) and Battle for Females (upping it to 5 if lower than that).
(Actually, in our campaigns, we use straight Battle for Sieges, too, not bothering with the additional skill, but that is a houserule.)
But yes, even with a skill of 0, you would, by GPC rules, do 0+DV for the roll.
Actually
I believe that BoW or BoE states that a minimum Siege Skill of 2 or 3 is necessary to take advantage of DV
But the starting characters, knight or lady, start with that as a minimum value

Actually
I believe that BoW or BoE states that a minimum Siege Skill of 2 or 3 is necessary to take advantage of DV
But the starting characters, knight or lady, start with that as a minimum value

I can't find that reference, but it makes sense.

I'm just using the Book of Entourage as a source of information and the Lady Wife skill list does not include Siege. Neither any of the Knights or other professional soldiers. Only the Engineer is listed as having Siege. As I said, this is easily changed but I just wanted to clarify what the Book of Entourage states.

Depends upon the source you use. Pendragon 5.2 does not give men or women the siege skill, but Book of Knights and Ladies do. The value depends on the period the campaign is in. Don't know if you want to use that or not. Personally, I like it very much and use it.

The values bounce around a little because the books were produced at various times. The overall intent is that Knights have Siege 2, Ladies Siege 5 (I believe).

The values bounce around a little because the books were produced at various times. The overall intent is that Knights have Siege 2, Ladies Siege 5 (I believe).

That is what is in BoK&L. I couldn't find the rule Greg alluded to about needing at least Siege 2 for fortifications to be helpful.

As for Book of the Entourage, the followers there (wives and husbands) are simplified (although not quite as much as in the previous version). Siege simply isn't all that useful skill for MOST ladies. Now, if the lady in question happens to be a chatelaine (female castellan), taking care of her husband's or the king's castle in her husband's behalf, then I can see the lady having a more significant Siege skill. And I would also allow it to be picked up as one of the 'improvable' skills for the NPC wife.

Yes, 2 and 5 are correct for early campaigns, but it becomes 2 and 2 in later periods.