Don't forget the money-making gear. This is my favorite kit for things like it early game.
Steppe/Tundra Bounty Hunter (yey, Vaegir/Khergit roleplay) or Manhunter Done Right (mounted, blunt weapons for prisoner capture)
(Note: number values are taken from the
StrategyWiki, and may be from older versions. Feel free to correct them if they're all way off.)
This character can be very easy for anyone with a practiced hand, but can be a complete glass cannon if you don't dodge well, don't draw enemy ranged fire carefully, or come up against heavily armored opponents and lose mobility. In short, difficulty is 'easy until you screw up,' so I'm putting intermediate.
Horse: The saddle horse you start with is sufficient, but you can always upgrade to a Courser (value based at 323, adjust for low trade rating) or Hunter (434 value) if you feel the need.
Weapon & shield slots:
- Shield: the Round Shield costs little (105) and has 540 hp and 4 resistance according to strategywiki. You could always splurge and get a Heater Shield (160 denars value) for the 430 hp and 6 resistance or save by getting the Wooden Shield (42 value) at 360 hp and 1 resistance. Not a lot of people will be beating on your shield unless you get unhorsed, so...
- Melee weapon: The Club (11 value) is surprisingly effective if you don't mind hitting people a coupla extra times from horseback, at 95 reach and 15b damage. However, a Winged Mace (122 value) gets you 21b damage at 80 reach, not a bad trade off for the extra striking power if you find yourself thrown to ground. In the end you'll want a Military Hammer (317 value), preferably balanced/heavy. The default one gets you 90 reach and 25b damage.
- Polearm: Get ahold of a Jousting Lance (158 value) as soon as possible. The 218 reach is a help for riders that don't know how to aim (low polearms proficiency and plain ol' inexperience, I think), and the 17b damage balloons nicely when you run into a guy with the damn thing couched.
- Last slot: Could be a better quality melee weapon, a backup shield, or throwing gear. I prefer a heavy bag of throwing axes, but plain ones will be a great help. Throwing Axes (241 value, but often lootable from sea raider parties) have an attractive 38c damage rating and a bonus against shields, meaning they bite hard enough to one-shot opponents in the early game if you hit them decently. Running up to a guy on a horse and letting one go at him can be pretty entertaining, especially if you get a fatal headshot or charge for blunt damage immediately after and wind up knocking the poor sop out.
Armor: Nomad Armor (25 value) looks like the low-cost winner, but a Robe (31 value) or Coarse Tunic (47 value) is a good start to getting yourself the leg armor you need as a rider. Eventually, you may want Steppe Armor (195 value). For the legs, at least get some Hunter Boots (19 value), leg armor is a basic requirement for all riders. Gloves aren't a big deal, start with the leather ones if you want to bother at all. Helmets are self-explanitory; a good one and you get to not suffer massive damage from that lucky NPC that headshots you. A Nomad Cap (6 value) isn't a bad start for the cost-conscious.
The upgrade path I wind up on with this kit usually involves light leather and then mail and lamellar. I do wind up with a heraldic set most of the time, but that's just 'cause I like the look - thick lamellar armor makes a lot of sense for the price and protection values in that weight range.
Total minimum value, without anything in gloves slot and fourth weapon slot empty: 261. For actual cost I guess you'd need to multiply it by however much merchant markup is in the early game.