Whoever sponsered a tournament usually had prizes for the top three individuals as well as for winning teams. Prizes were usually not cash, but some bit of jewelry or other valuable object. By the 15th century, these prizes were awarded by noble ladies in elaborate ceremonies. The loser of each duel customarily paid a fixed amount of money to the winner to represent the ransom he would have had to pay had he lost in a battlefield combat. As dangerous as combat was, because of all the armor knights wore, they were more likely to be captured alive, and held for ransom, than killed. In many ways, tournaments were more dangerous, because a knight might participate in many each year, while wars and battles were much less frequent.