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Castle Courtyard Battle Map - Launch
🕑 Added 2021-09-30 20:17:21 +0000 UTCHello Adventurers! Here is the last of my paid maps this month (just two this time as I’m trying to do a bit of self-care). I’ve called this one the Castle Courtyard. This is a gothic-inspired layout with a massive open courtyard as the main battleground and the castle entrance at the rear. It’s large enough to be perfect for a large-scale fight with something big and scaly ;) This will be one of a few maps I create for a full gothic castle. I’m thinking dungeons, a banquet hall, sleeping chambers, and a few others. They will be stand-alone maps but with a general layout that could work together.
Free Asset pack coming in the next few days!
I’m in the process of putting together a small but free asset pack for Patrons, it’s not quite done yet, but will be released in the next few days. It will contain a few piles of ‘things’ (boxes and stuff), a boat or two, a rockfall, and a couple of treasure chests. Hopefully, they will be useful for adding to your maps.
Finally, I’d like to thank you for being part of my Patreon. I love creating content for the Tabletop community and although at times I get a bit stressed with self-imposed deadlines it’s always amazing to see people finding my stuff useful! Anyways, I hope you have a wonderful weekend, remember to love each other and as always, happy adventuring! Now let’s climb into this creepy coach and visit the ominous castle in the mountains. The Count seems like a jolly fellow, always laughing and commenting on the local wolf population.
Map Descriptions
Castle road
The road to the castle is little more than a dirt trail cut into the side of the mountain. As you travel along the road, the dense forest falls away, leaving a dizzying drop into the valley below. Rocks litter the road, some so large they almost block your passage. Parts of the road have fallen away making the already narrow road even more treacherous to navigate.
Castle walls
The castle looms before you out of the mist, dark and ominous, its grey stone walls topped with battlements and turrets. Weathering has added a mottled pattern to the stonework, softening its edges and blending the walls into the rugged landscape.
Castle Gatehouse
The drawbridge is down, allowing passage over the steep ravine that protects the walls of the castle from enemies and unwanted guests. The gatehouse entrance, protected with a portcullis and thick wooden doors is open, shadows obscure the courtyard beyond.
Courtyard
The courtyard opens out in front of you, the cobbled ground covered with moss and lichen. The battlements tower above, making this large open area feel strangely claustrophobic. To your right is an open-sided slate-roofed building, a coach house with stables. In the center is a dry fountain and beyond it, a flight of steps leads up to the castle’s main entrance. Around the edges of the courtyard are smaller buildings and stairs leading up onto the battlements.
Notes and Tips
- 30x40 grid map
- The castle walls can be used for strategic advantage, especially for ranged combat. There are a few stairways onto the walls. The walls can be climbed but not without a fairly difficult skill check.
- The portcullis could be down or up. If down, the players will need to find another way into the courtyard. Finally a use for the grappling hook someone insisted on buying at the start of the campaign ;)
- The local lord’s lands are being ravaged by a dragon of some sort. It has taken to sitting on the castle walls to eat its meals (cattle from the lord’s stock). No one is brave enough to confront it, until now!... brave adventurer?
- The lord has hired some dodgy dragon hunters, who have captured a dragon (currently chained in the courtyard). They are now trying to extort money from the lord, threatening to release the (very pissed off) dragon if he doesn’t pay.
- Guards are going missing, it’s almost as if they are being plucked from the walls by some unseen assailant. Turns out giant eagles are angry the lord is obsessed with eagle egg omelets (which he feeds to the players when they arrive). Oops!
- The stair at the castle entrance is a perfect place for a villainous speech. However, a quick bit of advice, don’t spend too long writing it. If your party is like mine you’ll be lucky to get three lines in before they open fire ;)
Variants
Day/Night versions
A river fog creeps into the castle, this could be bad!
A rich lord moves his entire castle to the desert with magic, because why not!
And Night/River fog versions for the desert as well.
And a winter snow version Day/Night
Comments
Afternoon Maps
Thanks so much for the kind message :D I absolutely love what I do, it really is a dream come true. I do put pressure on myself to continue to improve and make 'better' art, and very much worry when I don't produce as much as I wanted in a month. Getting the balance between quality/quantity and self-care is tough ;) It really helps to get messages like this, so thank you very much for taking the time to reach out, I do really appreciate it!
Joshua A Calderhead
Just wanted to say "Thank you!" for all the beautiful maps, including this one! Especially this one! You do tremendous work and I for one appreciate all the effort and clear dedication you have put into each of these works of art. Be gentle on yourself. Speaking only for myself, I would stick around and support you no matter your release cadence! Each of these is that good!
