Troll Lord Games

Simple question...

Would you prefer the Wilderlands of High Adventure maps to be hex-based or non-hex? Why?

I want to go with no hexes... I don't think they are necessary for the current market. But I can be convinced otherwise...

How about including a transparency with hexes on it? (ala Forgotten Realms boxed set)
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No preference, really. I'm pretty abstract by nature and not having it spelled out to me in exact hexes is no big deal.

angelius wrote:
How about including a transparency with hexes on it? (ala Forgotten Realms boxed set)

Too expensive... besides, at that point, it isn't a style, just a method of measurement. And everyone already has a ruler...
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James Mishler

Main Man, Adventure Games Publishing
jamesagp1@gmail.com
http://adventuregamespublishing.blogspot.com/
http://jamesmishler.blogspot.com

I have a ruler, but the thing doesn't work without a scale of some kind printed on or near the map. So no hexes.

I am a trucker for the last five years, and have the benefit of a wonderful set of maps which include distances between places modified for terrain and such. Maybe a little more trouble for different movement rates (since a wagon is slower than a rider on a good horse and such) but the same kind of thing would be handy. Also notes on different roads, from the imperial stone slab to the celtic plank road to the gravel goat track, and each types' effects on travel.

I vote for not-hexes; I dont really have any reason for them

I like hexes but don't require them.

As a CK I enjoy the ease of distance discernment the hexes allow. As a gamer I like the nostalgia that the hexes evoke.

That said, while I do enjoy hexes, I by no means grumble or gripe when a product doesn't have them (I do however burn the creator of the product in effigy in a quiet, private ceremony).

I like hexes easy to read and brings back good gaming memories

ken
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WWBYD What would Brigham Young do ?
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Hexes fro nostalgia only. If you don't do hexes I won't bitch. Well, I might, but not much. Plus I'll still buy the stuff.

I'd be more interested in the style of the cartography - as said above, hexes mainly add more to nostalgia for me...

And I have a ruler and a hex overlay from another setting, so all I have to do is substitute the new distances onto it.
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John "Sir Seskis" Wright

Ilshara: Lands of Exile:
http://johnwright281.tripod.com/

High Squire of the C&C Society
www.cncsociety.org

I'm not against hex maps, so either way is OK. Really, the important thing is the map. High quality is it, with or without hexes.
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Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Hexes all the way. I'm not sure about others, but hexes is a vital part of my wilderness excursion games. Hexes all the way, baby!

...........................................Omote

FPQ
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Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

I vote: world map -- hex. Player's map: grid, unkeyed.

Hexes. Yes!

--ghul

Okay in that case... hexes for nostalgia!
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Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!

serleran wrote:
I vote: world map -- hex. Player's map: grid, unkeyed.

I like hexes for when I make smaller maps of the bigger ones. One big hex is a new map. Perhaps like Serelan says, hexes on the GM's map or a B/w extra or smaller version...

I mapped the whole Vesve forest in Greyhawk in smaller maps in CC... then they came out with CC2, which the formats weren't compatable
I like the look of a non hex map though
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I vote no hexes, but it really matters little to me, as long as I can read them.
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Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

The Wilderlands with hexes is just as God intended. So yes.

Melan = right on!

...........................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

I say hexes. Its easy to judge distance along contoured lines and paths.

For example, if a player wants to compare a river route to an overland route,

hexes make this quick and easy. Why not offer a free download of whatever you don't officially publish? Most graphic programs make adding a layer pretty easy.

Melan has an excllent point. So does ShinyD.

BTW, ShinyD. if your a DM/player of C&C go say hello in our hello thread, let us know some stuff about you. Then read our hello's and get to know a little about us.

Also, MUST...RESIST...URGE...TO...PLAY DIABLO!

DIABLO 2

Ever play D2 with the Baldur's Gate mod? Fun stuff.

Treebore wrote:
DIABLO 2

My nephew tells me the new Diablo 2 expansion set is outstanding. He's quite the fanatic. I have the demo and I think it's great and have been tempted to buy the full game. I just don't need another gaming addiction right now!!!

On the other hand, I'm ready to buy the Doom III expansion and Quake IV!
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Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

The Diablo II expansion is quite fun -- it allowed me many hours of of distraction...

The Doom III expansion though is another matter... if you can find it cheaply (say a bargain bin... maybe). Can't really comment on Quake 4.

Have you tried Painkiller? I'd get that above the Doom III expansion or Quake 4.

Moriarty the Red
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http://www.arcanacreations.com

Er... sorry. I originally meant to reply to the thread's question. Got distracted by other gaming goodness.
Hex does invoke that nostalgia feel but I think I'd prefer them without hexes.

Moriarty the Red
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"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

James, I prefer hex-based maps for the Wilderlands. The hexes allow dungeons, cities, etc. to be placed and located with the utmost facility. Hexes also make wilderness travel easier on the Judge. Finally, hexes simply feel "Wilderlands". A Wilderlands map without hexes is rather like a dungeon map without squares.

I don't think the question should be "Are hexes necessary in today's market?" Rather, I think it should be "Would hexes make these products not sell as well?" To that question I must say that I am unable to imagine why hexes would be detrimental to sales.

If hexes are neutral with regard to sales, then please keep them in.

hehe... the fact that hexes are the overwhelming favourite to those on these forums (at least the outspoken ones) come as no suprise ...

all of you old skoolers!....

I'm just kidding, this is coming from me, the guy that just had a 10 min conversation why the word "Wizard" should never be used in place of "Magic User" in my house.
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Big Iron Vault Your friendly neighbourhood gaming magazine. Check out our new webcomic, The Heindrich Project!

Other than the nostalgia reasons for keeping hexes (with which I full agree), there is a practical reason for having hexes: map scaling. If you don't put hexes on the maps, then you will more than likely have to put a scale on the map. And I know James is planning on changing the basic scale of the Wilderlands from 5 miles per inch (5 mile hexes) to 15 miles per inch (15 mile hexes) iirc.

If a scale is printed on the map, and you want to work in a different scale, then the players that see the maps, know you have changed the world in some fashion. If you print the maps with hexes and only specify the scale in the books, then the players don't know what scale was originally intended and you can use whatever scale you like. I for one would like to keep the 5 mile hexes.

I know this may not mean as much to some, but it allows me to stay a little more in the zone for play if I don't have to stop and explain the map is at a different scale than printed.