[The Grand Library] Gothic City Church | 50x40

Hello everyone, and happy New Release Monday!
I'm excited to share the first part of my newest map: The Gothic City Church (Part 1) — featuring the exterior of the church, its surrounding graveyard, and rectory grounds.

This map was inspired by the Church of St. Andral in Vallaki from the Curse of Strahd module, and is perfect for gothic horror settings. You’ll find a weathered, overgrown graveyard, a gloomy church exterior, and rectory grounds all wrapped in a dark fantasy atmosphere.

If you’ve been looking for a large, ancient graveyard to run encounters, undead ambushes, or somber roleplay scenes, this one will suit your needs— and at 50x40, there’s plenty of room for exploration.

Note: Because of the level of detail, the interior of the church and rectory will be released separately as Part 2. Expect three full levels of interiors, rich with gothic detail and storytelling opportunities.

For the design of this church, I wanted it to resemble a larger chapel that would be in the center of a large city like Vallaki. I made this church feel a little more gothic-inspired with it's towering spires and looming belfry.

I used sun symbolism here, which is fitting for in-game faiths such as The Morning Lord from D&D or Aurelia from Grim Hollow.

For the graveyard, I wanted it to feel packed and crowded with graves stacked on graves. It gives the sense that burial practices don't commonly have a single coffer per burial, and rites such as burning the deceased so they don't rise as the undead might be a common practice here. Familial graves tend to cluster around the same area where ashes are buried or coffins are stacked on top of each other.

Variants

I created a "massacre" variant for this map in the event that things don't go as planned, recovering the sacred bones that make this church hallowed ground. This features large sections of bloodied ground, broken windows, tattered banners, and even claw marks on the roof! I'll do the same for the interior version next week!

Release Details

For my Grand Library, Foundy, and Champion Tiers, you'll receive the following with this release:

• Six Color Moods: Dark Fairytale, Ghostly, Gloom, Night, Sunny Day, & Warm

• A "Massacre" Variant

• No Lights Variant

• Weather Overlays Including Fog, Rain & Sun Rays

• 8k & 4k Image Resolution

• Grid & NoGrid Versions

• Jpg & Webp File Types

• Printable PDFs for each Color Mood

I'll have part II following this release as my next map, which will include the church interior as well as the rectory interior (and even the gazebo outside interior). The church will consist of a vestibule, nave, confessional, sacristy, office, and belfry entrance. It will also include an attic and belfry levels, including a massacre version for the ground floor (things are about to get bloody!)

As I wrap up April and head into May, I'll be working on my next Saltmarsh release as well as a new Lothburgh location and the next map in the Reloaded series.

Thank you all for your continued support of my craft, and I hope I continue to deliver the best content I can for your tables!

Cheers friends,

DM Andy