Hex or grid?

[Blackwarder]

Hi all.

So the title says it all, which one do you prefer and for what? Hex maps or grid maps?

Do you prefer hexes or grid for combat?
What about outdoors maps and city maps?
And what about dungeon maps?

It's a small question but I think that it will have a big impact on the next edition.

Personally, I prefer outdoor maps with hexes, I'm not sure about indoor maps though since I haven't seen any indoor maps with hexes, I think that for combat with miniatures hexes are better than a grid but that's about it and tbh I've been using grids since forever simply because it was easier to find boards with grids (AKA and big checkers boards) than ones with hexes.

Edit: and a follow up question, how do you prefer your multi level maps (buildings, forts, dungeons etc) isometric, top down? Or something else?

Warder

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Grid indoors; hex outdoors.

Thus has it always been; thus shall it always be.

 

[Blackwarder]

Grid indoors; hex outdoors.

Thus has it always been; thus shall it always be.

I haven't seen any hex maps in recent years...

Warder

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Hexes, hexes, hexes!

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I haven't seen any hex maps in recent years...

Warder

You need to pick up a [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Chessex-Role-Playing-Play-Mat/dp/B0015IUAAG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1333315405&sr=8-2]Chessex double-sided battle mat[/ame], then. Solves that problem.

 

[Mattachine]

Hexes were used for overland outdoor travel back in old editions.
Square grids were always used for encounters in D&D, even outdoor ones.
I can't see this changing in 5e.

 

[Blackwarder]

You need to pick up a Chessex double-sided battle mat, then. Solves that problem.

I ment in sourcebooks and advantures.

I generally agree with the hex for outdoors and city maps and grid for indoors.

Warder

 

[KarinsDad]

Hexes are better in all cases (they just need a partial hex rule).

Offset squares are better than square grids.

Interestingly enough, I cannot think of a time in 4E where I opened up a module and it had a diagonal corridor anymore.

 

[Blackwarder]

I remember one of those and it was a bitch to draw on out eraiser board correctly during play.

Warder

 

[Crazy Jerome]

Far as I know, my preference has never been used in a major RPG. I prefer offset square--like a normal square grid, but with every other row slid by half a cell. (Or you can do it with columns instead. Doesn't matter.)

This has nearly all the advantages of hex grids, in that you now have six obvious squares that are adjacent, along with all the nifty movement possiblities. Yet it is far easier to draw squared off floor plans against.

I like hex ok. But having played Hero System for over a decade, and struggling with overlaying hex grids on indoor floor plans, I prefer not to go there unless I must. Outdoors, hex grids do look nicer. I'm not sure I'd care for any small scale plan, even so.

I don't think you can buy a vinyl map with offset squares, but you can easily draw your own or buy a piece of vinyl flooring that will work.