Hex Crawl Awesomeness

[Piperdog]

I just discovered the awesomeness of the Hex Crawl, via the example pdf at Frog God Games. Could someone point me toward products that follow this format? I can't wait for the releases with FGG. Could someone point to the titles of other "Hex Crawl" sandbox style products? I am so in.

[Treebore]

I think Omote would be able to give you better guidance on this.

[Breakdaddy]

most of the old Judge's Guild stuff (wilderlands) was perfect for the sandbox hexcrawl format. There are some great ideas here:
http://arsludi.lamemage.com/index.php/7 ... t-marches/

and here:
http://lotfp.blogspot.com/?zx=5d6a7d92db0a199b

[Omote]

If you can score a copy of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy from Necromancer Games, you have, probably, the best hex-crawling experience that was ever put into an RPG product. It's pretty rare though (and 'spensive), so that sucks. Your best bet is to wait for Frog God Games new hotness to come out. However, like Breakdaddy stated, if you need hex crawlin' right now, you'll have to wade through the old judges guild products.

All of that being said, if you truely like this format and will use it with your players, find a decently priced copy of Wilderlands of High Fantasy which is 448 pages of pure hex-crawl. Though you're in no doubt going to hav to spend over a $100 to get it. -OR- you can get it electronically here:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php? ... =2745&it=1

If you want it electronically, check around the link I posted. You can get bundles of the stuff, or the whole Wilderlands of High Fantasy 3E books (which are blow the front of your pants out, awesome!) Additionally, there are maps for that setting if you like. If you don't want the maps, and just the straight descriptive hex crawl stuff, get the Wilderlands of High Fantasy box set... 448 pages of nothing but Hex-Crawl.

Omote's Point of View: I think that the Wilderlands of High Fantasy box set is one of the true, highest points ever reached in this hobby. Most people like this box set, many love it. I don't think I've ever heard one person say that it is not good. It's a shame that there were so few printed. Necromancer's box sets, in general, are some of the finest RPG products ever produced.

~O

[Breakdaddy]

I wish I had the Wilderlands Necro box. I almost traded a guy his copy for a copy of the Upper Works box but I didn't. Wish I had now.

[Breakdaddy]

I recently made this map for a Hexcrawl using my full purchased copy of Hexographer. Took like 20 minutes. The original version is hi-res but I downsized it for photobucket. This is the player's version. My CK version is much more filled out but I'm not posting it here due to potential players in this game being around

[anglefish]

What about Pathfinder's King Maker set?

[Go0gleplex]

That's a nice map BD. Almost makes me want to get the program.

[Treebore]

That's a nice map BD. Almost makes me want to get the program.

The free version can do most, if not all of that.

http://inkwellideas.com/roleplaying_too ... pher.shtml

[Treebore]

What about Pathfinder's King Maker set?

I have yet to run it, but it reads to be AWESOME!

[Frost]

Tons of great freebies here:

http://www.judgesguild.com/downloads/index.html

You could have a campaign with the Modron or Thunderhold stuff alone.

Great stuff.

[Treebore]

Tons of great freebies here:

http://www.judgesguild.com/downloads/index.html

You could have a campaign with the Modron or Thunderhold stuff alone.

Great stuff.

A lot of those don't work anymore.

[TheMetal1]

I just discovered the awesomeness of the Hex Crawl, via the example pdf at Frog God Games.

Initially, I thought this was another type of Retro-clone RPG that had come out by FGG called Hex Crawl. But went over to the link-a-dink and read the background and realized the OP (and FGG) were talking about wilderness adventuring using Hex's to mark progress, exploration and discovery. But what was really cool was learning about the 3 LBBs mentioned the use of the Avalon Hill game Outdoor Survival and how it was used to enhance the original D&D game. Very cool piece of information. The free PDF example they give outlines it well in the typical sandbox style. While I don't recall ever having played as player using this type of thing, I certainly have as a GM. I think it adds a ton to the game and makes exporation fun.

What about Pathfinder's King Maker set?

Read through most of Kingmaker and intend it to be the first thing I run it if I ever get a Pathfinder game off the ground. Very well done as is their map folio for the adventure path. A good "sand-box" style game. The intent with the adventure - is to a certain exploration, albeit within a chartered area. They outline a % chance of encounter entering a hex and % for day and/or night exploring the hex, along with specifics for travel time for each type of hex based an average speed (both simply crossing and fully exploring). If you have the whole series this will allow for a larger "Sandbox" as even in the first module it references later modules (which are now out) along with the "Guide to the River Kingdoms". Of course you can always use the Pathfinder Core book tables or make it up as you go.

[Breakdaddy]

Go0gs, as Treebore pointed out, the free version has most of the features of the paid version. I paid so I could run it offline (and to support development, of course). I also can use my own system fonts like the ones in the map I made. Aside from that, you could do everything I did there with a little tutorial:

http://inkwellideas.com/?p=1063

[Go0gleplex]

It's interesting, but I prefer doing my maps by hand. It's a craftsmanship thing.

[Piperdog]

Thanks for the response guys. Lots of good ideas and good advice. I just got the pdfs of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy, Players Guide of the Wilderlands, and a bunch of other stuff. I couldn't believe the price on the box set...though it would be sweet to snag it. I just have to be happy with the digital copies, eh? And it looks friggin amazing! Now I need the Print on Demand copies of Frog God's Slumbering Tsar series from RPGNow....and I am waiting on their Hex Crawl Classics. The thing that amazes me is that there is literally years and years worth of adventuring material. Sort of crazy really. I have no idea how to digest this stuff, but I certainly will have a blast trying.

[Relaxo]

I hate you all.
now my shopping list is THREE miles long.

[Treebore]

Thanks for the response guys. Lots of good ideas and good advice. I just got the pdfs of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy, Players Guide of the Wilderlands, and a bunch of other stuff. I couldn't believe the price on the box set...though it would be sweet to snag it. I just have to be happy with the digital copies, eh? And it looks friggin amazing! Now I need the Print on Demand copies of Frog God's Slumbering Tsar series from RPGNow....and I am waiting on their Hex Crawl Classics. The thing that amazes me is that there is literally years and years worth of adventuring material. Sort of crazy really. I have no idea how to digest this stuff, but I certainly will have a blast trying.

The best way to digest it is to read a good bit of it and then start using it! It really shows how good it is when you use it.

Yeah, I was/am a big fan of Necromancer, so I was basically "on the floor" when their boxed set as released. So I got the boxed set/PDF pre order deal, and then when I went to Gen Con 2006 some vendor was selling them for $10, so I bought two more. I wonder if that vendor is kicking them-self today.

I did the Tsar pre order too.

The good things about the old PDF versions is that they are easy to print out at an average of 32 pages each.

As for normal Necromancer modules check out drivethru's POD pages. A fair number are already up for being ordered in print. Too bad we won't be seeing the Wilderlands material put up. Especially the boxed set.

[Omote]

I would suggest differently Piperdog. I would suggest reading about each area's initial description (about a page or so). If that catches your likiing, read the following hex-crawl stuff. It's going to be too hard to read 450+ pages of Wilerlands of High Fantasy and then go from there.

And P-dog, you've hit on one of the truely awesome elements of WOHF, the fact that a single box set has literally YEARS worth of adventuring all in one place. I've even read some of the hexes and transplanted the idea into a different game. WOHF is an adventure generating MACHINE!

Best,

~O

PS: If you run some Wilderlands, I'm going to have to drive up and play in that game!!!

[Piperdog]

Still paging through the box set. This stuff really is gold. I have been beating myself up that I hadn't looked into this sooner. Not sure why I didn't, but better late than never, eh?

Anybody know if a giant map of all 18 maps, complete with hex numbering, exists?

I was just comparing the hex crawl format in the Wilderlands stuff to Gygax's Zagyg setting. Very similar, sandbox style approach. I am now thinking of ways to do my own sandbox hex crawl in Aihrde. The Luneberg Plains in Augsberg lends itself very well to the format, so I may give that a go. Or do I just go straight Wilderlands for a while? What a great dilemma to have! Torn between awesomeness on one side, and ......awesomeness on the other! Love this stuff man. Oh, and BD, I am now hooked on hexographer, thanks to your display. I also appreciated your links to the adventure ideas...I really like the idea of letting the players doing the majority of the planning....I think I will give that approach a try and see what happens.

[Treebore]

To get the map printed out, because I know they at least used to have legal permission to print it, is contact a company called gamerprinter. He laminates as well for a very reasonable additional fee. Well, at least he used to be reasonable a few years ago, lots of prices have inflated greatly since then.

[Treebore]

Piper,

If you can see threads over on Dragonsfoot, there is this "story" about printing out the WL maps from the PDF:

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 11&t=40493

[alcyone]

Has anyone done any of Aihrde/Blacktooth Ridge in numbered 5 mile hexes? It would be fun to have a common map that we could all contribute 2 line hex descriptions to for hex crawls. I found for A1 that was exactly what was going on anyway; lots of stumbling around the ridge looking for stuff; may as well get some ideas going.

[Piperdog]

Great minds think alike! I have been reworking the A1 map recently, attempting to do just that. Not with hexes per se, but to flesh out encounter areas, adventure insertion points, and missing artwork (ie remnants of old imperial roads, etc.).