Noblesse Oblige: Legacy of the Sorcerer Kings

What does it mean to be nobility? Is it no more than an inherited title, or does it hold some greater meaning? To some, nobility is not merely a station to be held, but an obligation to be met, and yet... Can such convictions hold firm in the face of intrigue, betrayal, and overwhelming odds? The game follows the story of Alexander, a young, intelligent nobleman on the continent of Velonia, and explores themes of love, nobility, political intrigue, and obligation in a carefully crafted High Fantasy world.

Upon his return from studying in a distant land, Alexander’s birthright has been stolen and his lands thrown into chaos. Faced with this betrayal and the sudden loss of all that he has spent his life preparing for, he must take up the sword and retake what is his. But a true ruler does not—cannot—live by the sword alone, not if he seeks to create something that can endure. No, victory in battle may be essential, but true triumph comes in subtler ways: to claim a lasting, meaningful victory, Alexander must not merely crush or outwit his enemies, but also navigate the labyrinthine politics of court, inspire his people... and perhaps find love for himself amidst it all.

To some, the obligations of a lord are but a burden, to others a farce. Yet to one who embraces this duty, naught could bring greater satisfaction that using his power for good. And to those who would stand firm for their ideals and bring light to the world, others are drawn. Though he may stand against overwhelming odds, a true lord needs never fight his battles alone. Along the narrow path to victory, Alexander will gather a group of loyal companions—lovers, friends, rivals, allies, even those who were once his enemies, each with unique personalities and skills. Together with them, he will delve into the dark places of the world, traverse mountains, fight great battles... and perhaps most of all, struggle against those most terrible of shadows—those that lurk in the hearts of men, wrought by greed, hatred, envy, and sometimes lust.

But it is in deepest darkness that light can shine the brightest. Will you join Alexander on his journey to change the world for the better? 

In Noblesse Oblige, every character is unique, with his or her own opinions, personality, and reasons for joining the party. Every party member has loyalty, driven by their opinions of choices made and paths taken; increasing loyalty unlocks powerful skill upgrades and extra story content for that character. In addition to their unique perspectives on the story, each of Alexander’s companions brings unique mechanics into battle. These include not only a wide variety of skills and playstyles, but also unique passive effects that shape how they approach combat. Combat in Noblesse Oblige is a novel take on the traditional turn-based RPG, one intended to promote skill and judicious use of abilities, rather than merely managing attrition or spamming generic attacks. 

Beyond the battlefield, a lord must rule his realm. To see this done, Alexander must carefully build and manage key factors like Popular Support, Noble Support, Economic Status, Army Size, and Army Quality, factors that will have important impacts as the game proceeds. In addition, key choices may serve to shape the path ahead: with whom to ally, who is most worthy of holding strategic lands, or what faith the realm should follow in the days ahead. These choices, though few, will have a lasting impact upon the story. 

But ruling the realm is not without its perks. Any lord of any importance has need of a castle, and that castle should reflect its lord’s desires. Accordingly, Noblesse Oblige features a system allowing for extensive castle customization.

Join Alexander on his journey. Gather loyal companions, explore exotic lands, and rule the battlefield. Bring justice to the realm, and remind the world that good needn't mean weak, naïve, or ineffectual, nor need pragmatic mean amoral. Yet through it all, dare not forget: a ruler's first duty is to his people, and a Prince's promises must ever be upheld, lest they lose all meaning.

As an Early Access game, Noblesse Oblige is a work in progress. The game already contains over 30 hours of playtime, comprising over 500,000 words of content. The present release schedule is to release a new set of content every 2-3 months. At present, Noblesse Oblige is free; when the game is closer to completion, this may change.

Enjoying the game? Consider becoming a Patron to support my work as a solo developer and/or to access early releases, lore posts, and in-depth information about characters and combat sections! 

Note:  Old saves are always compatible with new versions unless otherwise noted. Check here for migration instructions.

Noblesse Oblige: Legacy of the Sorcerer Kings contains general mature themes, including non-explicit descriptions of violence, political intrigue, realpolitik, implicit sexual intimacy, references to attempted sexual assault and coercion, and the use of fictional addictive drugs.  An optional patch adding textual intimate scenes is available.