hexing a battlefield

[Norm]

I have put together a short video about 'hexing' the battlefield. It shows a few benefits of hexes and then explores a variety of terrain pieces.

LINK - http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/hex-terrain-making-hexed-battlefield.html

[Cherno]

Thanks for creating and posting this. You have a nice collection of hex tiles there. I learned a new thing or two from watching the video even though I have been playing BattleTech since about the mid 90s

[Momotaro]

Nice scenery and useful tips in that video - thanks!

When you're using unit facing, it looks like you use 12-point facing, including the points of the hex, rather than just the six hex faces.  Is that correct?  How do you find it works in practice - confusing at all?  I remember old Traveller starship combat games using it (and of course Star Warriors) and it seemed wo work OK.

[Norm]

Hi Thanks. I had to cut the video back from 21 mins to 15 to get it uploaded, so some severe editing went in, including some deeper explanations as to how units relate to hexes.

I never use flat hexed for facing - just the vertex for front facing and then everything follows off from that, so I am just using 6 points of reference on the hex. If a unit changes facing then it simply clicks around a number of vertex in the the appropriate direction.

A couple of weeks ago I did a conversion of Neil Thomas' book (One Hour Wargames) to hexes for the ACW. They only have three pages of rules to start with so it becomes an interesting case as only the fundamentals need covering.

The conversion process may interest you, here is a link -
http://battlefieldswarriors.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/hexing-1-hour-wargames-acw.html

There is a conversion document that shows facing rules etc, it is located in the resource section at the end of the article.

[Momotaro]

Thanks, looks useful!

[Cherno]

It's unfortunate that you had to cut the video  Here's a dumb thought: Why not just upload the video in two pats?

[YPU]

I've been tempted by these hexes for ages. the idea of doing away with complications of measurement and exact placement always had a charm to me.

[Daeothar]

I've always disliked hexed terrain, ever since first playing Battletech. I certainly like the advantages, but for some reason, the terrain hexes just put me off.

So I once pondered on the possibilities of using a laser projector above the table, projecting a hex grid on top of the terrain. This means you'd get to use your existing terrain, hex sizes could be adjusted to suit your scale/game of choice, and once done playing on hexes, you'd turn off the projector and you're back with standard terrain again.

Heck; you could even switch to squares, for a whole range of other games too!

Honestly though; I've never gone beyond the theory of it. So I have no idea about the feasability or costs of such a setup...

[Norm]

I come from a board gaming background, so the hexes are more sub-consciously there for me, though I am consciously using them.

in contrast, I have difficulty in using the terrain just as a modular system (i.e. playing on it as an open system and not using the system) as my sub-conscious suddenly gets confused as to why things are not inside the hexes and why I am counting in inches rather than hexes.

It is clearly a familiarity thing.

[YPU]

Norm, I often use a dry wipe mat for RPG games which has squires on it. Sometimes we play games that don't use a grid system, however in placing miniatures or drawing features people tend to stick to the grid in the end, without thinking about it. Its quite interesting really.