Replacing Hexes with Squares

[Fedifensor]

Has anyone tried ditching the hex map, and using a standard battlemat with squares instead? I like the concept of the hex map, but drawing scenes is much easier on squares.

[Trebuchet]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

There are offset squares which have the same relative positions of hexes but are easier to draw on. I often use them instead of hex sheets.

[Sean Waters]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

We never play on squares or hexes, and often not even on tabletops. Superhero combats, when we are using miniatures, usually take the floor, with furniture, books and CD boxes as scenery, and a cloth tape measure for doing the measuring.

 

What I'm saying, basically, is I can't help with the question

[Maccabe]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

I've always preferred Squares to Hexes, they are easier to draw surroundings on but the miss/splatter requires the use of 1d8.

[Susano]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Steve Jackson mentioned the squares versus hexes argument as part of the GURPS design process. His answer was that while squares make for better building layouts, hexes make for better character movement. So, while he liked gridded maps, GURPS uses hexes as its easier to determine facing, direction, and movement.

[dstarfire]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

If you're going to use a square map, I'd recommend switching to a tape measure for distances (range, movement distance, etc.) as squares do not handle diagonals well.

 

On the other hand, who says walls, furniture, etc. have to follow hex boundaries? In reality, there aren't many spaces can be divided into a number of 6' squares, or even 1 foot squares, for that matter.

[Sean Waters]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

You can get transparent plastic hex grid overlays. Draw your map on square paper, overlay the hexes. Bingo.

[ghost-angel]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

You can do either. Personally, I prefer Neither. Just get a tape measure and a white board and go. Grids annoy me.

[Lord Mhoram]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

You can do either. Personally' date=' I prefer Neither. Just get a tape measure and a white board and go. Grids annoy me.[/quote']

 

That is what we've done for over a decade.

[lemming]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Well, my DDC game is going to be using squares since that's what Lego comes in, but I've got some Lego measuring sticks for figuring out ranges.

[Sean Waters]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Well' date=' my DDC game is going to be using squares since that's what Lego comes in, but I've got some Lego measuring sticks for figuring out ranges.[/quote']

 

Although some of my combats have features Bionicles in the past, I've never taken the lego thing to the measuring stick level. I'm impressed

[eternal_sage]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

we used to use minis, until we started playing nWoD then HERO. now we don't use minis at all, as they just get in the way and slow us down. but when we used minis for DnD, i still used a hex grid instead. go figure.

[MorpheousXO]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Squares can do diagonals somewhat decently, you just treat each diag as 1.5" and round down for the last square (or you can round up, up to GM). In that way I like the squares better cause I'm not sure how you'd figure out the corner movement on hexes...

[Sean Waters]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Oddly enough a lot of our battles involving miniatures are interrupted by the sudden appearance of a monstrously huge beast: Pushkin The Star Cat! Fear her playful whims!

[eternal_sage]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

hell, that was true on the table for us!

 

Jenny: "OH NO! ITS THE DREADED KALI!"*

Bob: "NO, MY FACE!"

Jenny: "HE DRUG BOB'S CHARACTER OFF THE TABLE, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN!"

DM: "that means he got a good seat for the second coming..."

Jenny: "OH MY GOD! THE HORROR"

Bob: "WHAT A RANDOM AND CRUEL WORLD!!"

DM: "sorry, that one is out of my hands. not even god himself knows the creature's motivations!"

 

dramatized for your pleasure!

 

*yes one of our cats is named Kali, and yes, he fully deserves the name, as his favorite game is death, and favorite food is faces. he would actually leap onto the table, grab one of the minis in his mouth, and take off into another room, probably to begin heinous torture...

[Maur]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Squares can do diagonals somewhat decently' date=' you just treat each diag as 1.5" and round down for the last square (or you can round up, up to GM). In that way I like the squares better cause I'm not sure how you'd figure out the corner movement on hexes...[/quote']

 

Squares on the diagonal are actually 3" every 2 squares you move. So you would either count them as 1", 2", 1", 2" or as 2", 1", 2", 1", etc...

[Opal]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

The group I've been in for the last few years has been really into D&D, so I've gotten used to squares. They have thier own problems, like diagonal movement being almost 1.5 times as 'fast' as horizontal or vertical. Hexes have thier own wierdness, of course. I still run champs, though, and still use a hex battlemat.

 

To draw straight lines and right angles on a hex map, draw along the base of one hex, through the center of the next, forming a straight line. To make a right angle, start at one end of the base of a hex and draw to the same end of the top edge of the hex, nipping off 2 sides of the hex, and continue that line. If you want whole hexes on one side of the line, you just connect the points of the hexes.

[MorpheousXO]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Squares on the diagonal are actually 3" every 2 squares you move. So you would either count them as 1"' date=' 2", 1", 2" or as 2", 1", 2", 1", etc...[/quote']

 

 

Isn't that what I said?

 

[ghost-angel]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Squares on the diagonal are actually 3" every 2 squares you move. So you would either count them as 1"' date=' 2", 1", 2" or as 2", 1", 2", 1", etc...[/quote']

 

or ... 1.5" per square . . .

[Susano]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

or ... 1.5" per square . . .

 

Stop using that new math!!!

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

Squares can do diagonals somewhat decently' date=' you just treat each diag as 1.5" and round down for the last square (or you can round up, up to GM). In that way I like the squares better cause I'm not sure how you'd figure out the corner movement on hexes...[/quote']

 

You don't do corner movement on hexes. They're arranged so that corner movement doesn't/can't happen. If a character wants to run in the direction of the hex's corner, you count movement on the map as if he's running in a wavy line. If the small inaccuracies inherent in that system bother you, you'd be better off ditching grids and using a tape measure.

[MorpheousXO]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

You don't do corner movement on hexes. They're arranged so that corner movement doesn't/can't happen. If a character wants to run in the direction of the hex's corner' date=' you count movement on the map as if he's running in a wavy line. If the small inaccuracies inherent in that system bother you, you'd be better off ditching grids and using a tape measure.[/quote']

 

to be honest, tape measure is starting to sound better to me, lol.

[Captain Obvious]

Re: Replacing Hexes with Squares

 

to be honest' date=' tape measure is starting to sound better to me, lol.[/quote']

 

They do have their advantages, although it's a little harder to sketch out a room in the proper scale without the grid lines to guide you.