Chronicles: Medieval has unveiled new details about its historically inspired heraldry system, highlighting the extensive research behind the game’s coats of arms and the tools players will use to create their own.
In its latest development update, the team behind Chronicles: Medieval discusses its collaboration with the College of Arms, the historical figures whose heraldic designs will appear in-game, and how these symbols will influence exploration, combat, and political gameplay.
Historical plausibility remains one of Chronicles: Medieval’s core design pillars, and the developers have taken particular care to ensure its heraldry reflects the medieval period. The team collaborated with the College of Arms, the official heraldic authority for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and with Adam Tuck, Lancaster Herald, who helped research and recreate historically accurate designs.
Although the first chapter of Chronicles: Medieval begins in 1313, before the College of Arms was established in 1484, its extensive historical records provided valuable references. The research included rolls of arms, seals, tomb monuments, and other surviving documents.
The project paid particular attention to English noble families, while it is also developing French and Holy Roman Empire heraldry to a similar level of historical accuracy. Where evidence is incomplete or disputed, the developers have created plausible reconstructions based on the families, regions, and historical periods involved.
Coats of arms played an important role in medieval society, identifying individuals and families while communicating allegiance and status. Each design consists of a shield with a background, known as the field, and one or more symbols called charges. Common examples include lions, eagles, crosses, and fleur-de-lis, alongside geometric patterns and divided backgrounds.
Traditional heraldry uses two metals, gold and silver, alongside five principal colors: red, blue, black, green, and purple. These follow established rules designed to maintain visibility, including the rule of tincture, which prevents certain color-and-metal combinations. The developers also explored blazon, the specialized language used to describe heraldic designs. For example, England’s royal arms can be described as “gules, three lions passant guardant Or,” meaning three gold lions walking across a red shield and facing the viewer.
Players will begin their journey as nobodies, without the status required to carry a personal coat of arms. Their character will initially receive a plain, single-color shield that appears alongside their marker on the exploration map. As they complete quests, win battles, and accumulate renown, they will eventually gain access to heralds in major settlements, who can help design a personal coat of arms for a fee.
The custom designer lets players choose from a curated collection of historically inspired colors, patterns, and symbols. Built-in restrictions are intended to keep player creations consistent with medieval heraldic traditions while still offering considerable creative freedom. Although the initial Early Access selection focuses on establishing a historically plausible foundation, the developers plan to expand the available options over time. The system has also been designed with mod support and future customization in mind.
Heraldry will appear throughout the world of Chronicles: Medieval, serving both visual and practical purposes. Castles and noble holdings will display their owners’ coats of arms, allowing players to identify territorial control directly from the exploration map. Visible villages, towns, cities, capitals, and castles will also feature their rulers’ colors across buildings and streets.
Combat encounters will feature historically researched heraldic designs on knights’ shields and armor, particularly for named historical characters. Warhorses equipped for battle will wear matching cloth caparisons, making their riders easier to recognize from a distance.
For ordinary soldiers, Chronicles: Medieval will use a system known as livery rather than displaying a full coat of arms on every uniform. These liveries will feature a noble’s associated colors and smaller identifying badges, reflecting historical practices used to distinguish household troops. The developers point to the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster as familiar examples of such symbols, which served as badges rather than coats of arms themselves.
Banners and flags will also play an important role on the battlefield. They will help players identify formations, determine which forces are engaged, and recognize when a unit’s position is beginning to falter. Different types of heraldic standards will reflect military hierarchy, with banners reserved for household units rather than levies.
According to the developers, heraldry is intended to provide meaningful gameplay information rather than decorate the medieval world. Recognizing a noble’s colors or spotting a banner cresting a ridge could help players distinguish allies from enemies and better understand the political landscape around them.
Players will not need to master medieval heraldic terminology to enjoy the system, however. The visual design aims to make important information easy to understand at a glance, and those who prefer not to create their own designs can have Chronicles: Medieval generate a random coat of arms.
Chronicles: Medieval is scheduled for PC via Steam in 2026. The sandbox RPG emphasizes historical accuracy, regional autonomy, and complex, AI-driven economic and military systems.
For more information on this and other upcoming medieval simulators coming out in 2026, like The Guild – Europa 1410, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily for updates
