The setting: Toscana during the Renaissance, in an Italia that has yet to create a central government in a Europe that has only recently emerged from the dark ages. The nobles that held power have fallen, and merchants with money are now attempting to climb the ladder of power. Determined to elevate their fame, they use their finances to become patrons of talented individuals, and aid and defend them in their endeavors.

In Patronize (), players are wealthy merchants who control individuals with talents in fields such as religion, arts, science, and exploration, trying to become more famous. But other wealthy merchants are also out there, and the competition to become someone's official patron is fierce; sometimes your intended protg is snatched from under your nose.

Patronize uses trick-taking mechanisms and contains 17 types of people cards, all with different abilities.