Nobles & Glory is not just a card game; it’s the result of more than a decade of design, testing, and thematic exploration. It was born from a simple idea: that the royalty and suits in a standard 54-card deck (including Jokers) could mean something. That the Kings, Queens, and Jacks could become rulers with purpose. That every card, from the humble Two of Clovers to the Joker; could play a meaningful role in shaping a living, breathing kingdom.

From that starting point, the game evolved into a detailed simulation of medieval power. It captures the dynamics of court politics, the influence of guilds, the burdens of warfare, and the steady hand required to govern a population through uncertain times. Every suit represents a different ideology; the agrarian strength of Clovers, the military might of Spears, the spiritual and cultural depth of Hearts, and the economic ambition of Diamonds. These forces don’t just define your kingdom’s identity; they shape the very Actions you can take.

This is a two-player game of asymmetrical kingdoms. Each player draws from their own half of the deck and builds a unique Royal Court. Decisions ripple outward; affecting not just your own realm, but your opponent’s as well. You’ll manipulate hands, shift cards between draw piles, and adapt to a constantly evolving state of play. Subtle deck building elements allow you to refine your kingdom over time, setting up powerful combinations or disrupting your rival’s plans.

You’ll take Actions that echo real medieval scenarios; from exposing scandal, issuing decrees, or funding grand constructions, to launching a three-turn crusade or sending a card on Pilgrimage. The game includes 24 unique Actions, each with its own flavour and impact, reflecting the tension, uncertainty, and power struggles of life at court.

Nobles & Glory isn’t designed to be simple. Like the world it draws from, it’s intricate and unpredictable; full of decisions that don’t always have clean outcomes. It takes time to learn and longer to master. But for those willing to immerse themselves in its systems, it offers the kind of layered, strategic experience that grows deeper with every play.

The game ends not with a single fixed condition, but with a final tally of Glory; shaped not only by what you accomplished, but how you accomplished it. Strength, wealth, culture, or faith; the path to victory will depend on how the kingdom has evolved.

This isn’t just a battle of cards; it’s a journey through the layered realities of medieval life, where noble ambition and commoner struggle intersect. From the triumphs and betrayals of the Royal Court to the shifting alliances and silent pressures of the guilds and clergy, Nobles & Glory reflects the challenges faced by rulers trying to build lasting legacies in a turbulent world.

It’s a celebration of medieval complexity; a world of hardship, cunning, resilience, and ambition. One where rulers had to balance power, trade, culture, and warfare at all times. Just as kings and queens once did, you’ll find yourself navigating that landscape, responding to adversity, and carving a path toward greatness; or collapse.

Nobles & Glory brings to life an expansive narrative of two kingdoms vying for dominance. Every decision matters. Every card holds power. Prepare to step into a world of influence and adversity, where two players pull the strings of their nobles, navigate shifting allegiances, and strive to achieve lasting Glory.

The Thematic Suits

Through centuries of use, the French playing card suits have accumulated layers of meaning. Traditionally, they mirrored the structure of society – from the plough to the pulpit, from the battlefield to the marketplace. Spears grew from the fields of agriculture, Hearts drew on the spirit and wisdom, Clovers wielded the power of the military, and Diamonds glittered with the promise of wealth. These symbolic interpretations are interwoven into the history of playing cards, explaining why even today these simple suit symbols can evoke such distinct realms of human experience. Each suit, in its own way, represents a fundamental facet of life, making the deck of cards a compact tapestry of medieval social order and enduring human values.

In Nobles & Glory, the black suits have been renamed for thematic clarity: Spades are referred to as Spears, and Clubs are referred to as Clovers.

Spears

Spears represent the warrior class, the nobles who relied on strength, discipline, and military strategy to expand their kingdoms. These rulers, clad in the dual armors of resolve and steel, lead with a martial mindset, turning military might into a pathway to glory. The Spears suit represents the militaristic and strategic side of medieval life, where honour was earned on the battlefield and expansion was seen as necessary for the growth of the realm. 

The military class of the Spears suit also included the guilds and people who forged weapons, built fortifications, and planned campaigns. While conquest and expansion were viewed as essential to growth, it was always coupled with a desire to protect and defend the kingdom. In this world, strength was the ultimate determinant of survival and power, and the Spears suit reflects that resilience and martial prowess were the bedrock of both glory and stability.

Hearts

Hearts represent those who pursued glory through wisdom, creativity, and spiritual enlightenment. These nobles sought to elevate society, not through conquest, but by promoting intellectual growth and artistic expression. In the medieval world, the pursuit of knowledge was deeply tied to the Church and religious institutions, which preserved learning and philosophy. From cathedral builders to scholars, from poets to philosophers, those of the Heart suit sought to transform their kingdoms by nurturing the mind and spirit.

As the heart of intellectual life, the Heart suit champions the pursuit of a more enlightened society, one that values education, art, and faith. For these nobles, true glory was found not in battle, but in the creation of a kingdom rooted in knowledge, progress, and reform.

These nobles and guilds do not merely imagine a better kingdom – they build it, one verse, vision, or sermon at a time. Their power lies in inspiration, education, and the courage to challenge tradition with new ideas. Glory, for a Heart, is found in the pursuit of a more enlightened realm – both on earth and beyond.

Clovers

Clovers represent the nobles who served as the guardians of the land, overseeing the agricultural backbone of the kingdom. Their lives were closely tied to the cycle of the seasons and the nurturing of the soil. They believed that the true strength of a kingdom rested in its agricultural production, which fed the population, fueled the economy, and sustained the nobility’s wealth. These stewards were not just landowners, but the managers of the earth’s resources, ensuring the survival and prosperity of their realms through diligent care and wise stewardship.

Guided by ancestral knowledge passed down through generations, those of the Clover suit tended to the land, helped by commoners who worked the fields and guilds supporting farming practices. Their role was not only to feed the kingdom but to maintain a balance between land and people. In this realm, the health of the land mirrored the well-being of the kingdom, making the Clover suit the embodiment of prosperity and stability.

Diamonds

Diamonds represent the nobles driven by the pursuit of wealth and economic power. These rulers shaped their kingdoms through trade, commerce, and the management of resources. The Diamond suit mirrors the rise of a capitalistic society where merchants, bankers, and financiers held significant sway, driving the flow of goods and wealth. In the medieval period, cities like Venice and Florence became powerful through their merchant guilds, whose influence extended well beyond mere trade.

The economic strategies of those in the Diamond suit relied on controlling resources, managing commerce, and expanding trade routes. These nobles were the architects of economic prosperity, ensuring their kingdoms thrived through the constant flow of riches. Unlike more traditional feudal kingdoms based on land and loyalty, those of the Diamond suit built their power on the principles of commerce, wealth, and trade, where the power of money could often rival that of the sword.