Building Hex Terrain?

[grubman]

I'm debating building a 3D board for my Battlelore games (pretty much the same as Memoir 44, if you are more familiar with that).  Normally, I like to do stuff from scratch, but Hexagons are kind of tricky (and I'm mathematically challenged).

I've found these Hex terrain products : http://www.kallistra.co.uk/Hexon%20info.html which are really cool...but also expensive, and most of the fun work is done.  I wouldn't mind using some of these, but I was wondering if there was a base board (or matt) I could buy with the Hexes (3" or 4") avaliable from anywhere (flocked or not)?

Building the terrain to go on individual hexes won't be a problem (actually, that'll be fun ), I'm just having problems comin up with a way to build (or draw) the Hexes on the base board.  I certainly wouldn't mind buying htat build and done already.  Any help or suggestions at all?

[Drunkendwarf]

Just saw these mentioned on TMP:

http://www.tridentebologna.it/esagoni_E.php?category=all

DJ

[matakishi]

I have a couple of mats from Hotz arts which I am very happy with. However, I notice that some people have had problems with Hotz recently. Personally I was more than pleased with the service I received.

http://www.hotzmats.com/

I used them here:
http://www.matakishi.com/settlement.htm

[Argonor]

I have quite a bunch of 10 cm hexes in different thicknesses from a company called 'Terrain Maker'.

I think they were meant for builing terrain for GHQ's WWII micro armour - I bought them for Battletech back in the 90's...

[Cory]

I picked up 3" ceramic tile hexes at Home Depot last year, a dozen for $6.

[Geudens]

I've been a Kallistra customer for years and looking at all the stuff (armies included) I have bought over 35 years of wargaming, I can state this is my best buy yet, period.  Contrary to mats (I hold nothing against these), you end up with a ridgid playing surface, even without using the "clips" (you don't need those on a flat surface anyway).  Also, the hex outlines hardly "show" on the tabletop, contrary to mats.

Both the plastic and the flock used are withstanding any amount of gaming.  Prior to Kallistra offering desert terrain, I bought "brown" hexes and applied the sand myself, but I must admit their finished product is far superior to my effort.  Do not think you are saving money by buying unflocked (to make grass or mixed) tiles and do the work yourself: the production ones are done in an industrial way.  You can view a number of games with Kallistra terrain here (and TSA's free rules to go with it):

http://www.tsoa.be/html/fuseliers.html

The Kallistra people are very kind and helpful and open to suggestions (and: no, I'm not a shareholder, just one of many satisfied customers).  It's a purchase you won't regret.

Hope this helps,

Rudi

[Dewbakuk]

Pictors Studio used to do lasercut foam board hex's. I can't get the site to work to see if they still do though.

[grubman]

Hope this helps,

Well, after looking at all the alternatives, perhaps I'll just invest the coin.  Maybe I'll sell some of those thousands of complete stets of Star Wars CMG miniatures just sitting in my closet.  Lord knows I'll get more use out of the hexes.

[Doc Twilight]

I have a couple of mats from Hotz arts which I am very happy with. However, I notice that some people have had problems with Hotz recently. Personally I was more than pleased with the service I received.

http://www.hotzmats.com/

I used them here:
http://www.matakishi.com/settlement.htm

Matakishi -

I am more than happy with the product, but not with the customer service. Both myself, and several others in the area, have ordered from Hotzmats. Only one of us got our product in a reasonable period of time - one of the guys ordered his mats in October of on year and received them in April of the next. When we attempted to communicate, we got nowhere - no answers to our emails, nobody answering the phone, and even our direct posts to the owner's own posts (usually advertising new products) on TMP were pretty much ignored.

There's also the matter of the Roman Seas rules that have been promised for nigh  on two years now... not to mention the delay of the Antonine fleet, etc.

I think it's a good service, but I'd strongly urge a buyer beware mentality with Hotz. He has a tendency to disappear for weeks, even months at a time, and has never been apologetic about any of it...

That said, Matakishi, and a member of my own group, have had nothing but good experiences with him, so again, your mileage may vary.

On the subject of hex terrain, there is the Geohex "Terrain Maker" system, Grub. Now that they've made boards for mounting the hexes, they're a little bit more practical for use. Might be worth a look. Hexes are already cut, and in a variety of thicknesses, with suggestions for building things like rivers, roads, etc.. all you'd need to do is paint them. As one of the odd quirks of my learning disabilities is a total inability to see straight lines, they have been more than useful for me, because I can't draw a hex to save my life!

-Doc

[Geudens]

Hope this helps,

Well, after looking at all the alternatives, perhaps I'll just invest the coin.  Maybe I'll sell some of those thousands of complete stets of Star Wars CMG miniatures just sitting in my closet.  Lord knows I'll get more use out of the hexes.

You certainly won't regret the investment, I can assure you.

Rudi

[grubman]

If anyone cares I ended up doing it from scratch instead.  I didn't do it to save money, but, since the stuff I wanted to buy cost about $250-$300, and what I made cost me under $5 (and I think I like it better), I guess I can't complain .

You can see it so far here: http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=9669.0