Wilderlands of High Adventure: Maps with Hexes or no?

jamesmishler · Post by **jamesmishler** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:09 pm

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...

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:11 pm

How about including a transparency with hexes on it? (ala Forgotten Realms boxed set)
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meepo · Post by **meepo** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:11 pm

No preference, really. I'm pretty abstract by nature and not having it spelled out to me in exact hexes is no big deal.

jamesmishler · Post by **jamesmishler** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:12 pm

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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Chugosh · Post by **Chugosh** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:21 pm

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.

Severite · Post by **Severite** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:22 pm

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

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:24 pm

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).

Arioch · Post by **Arioch** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:26 pm

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

ken
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:48 pm

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.

seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:53 pm

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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Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:53 pm

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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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:39 pm

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!

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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:15 am

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

Ghul · Post by **Ghul** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:23 am

Hexes. Yes!

--ghul

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:44 am

Okay in that case... hexes for nostalgia!
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Emryys · Post by **Emryys** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:52 am

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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Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:34 am

I vote no hexes, but it really matters little to me, as long as I can read them.
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Melan · Post by **Melan** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:46 pm

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

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:41 pm

Melan = right on!

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Shinydemon · Post by **Shinydemon** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:53 pm

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.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:34 pm

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.

meepo · Post by **meepo** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:37 pm

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

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:12 pm

DIABLO 2

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:13 pm

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

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:16 pm

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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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:59 pm

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.

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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:02 pm

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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Geoffrey · Post by **Geoffrey** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:43 am

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.

angelius · Post by **angelius** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:18 am

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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masterarcanist · Post by **masterarcanist** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:36 am

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.

Troll Lord Games

Wilderlands of High Adventure: Maps with Hexes or no?

Wilderlands of High Adventure: Maps with Hexes or no?

Key and distance gazeteer, if not.