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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KarinsDad" data-source="post: 283830" data-attributes="member: 2011">This is very interesting. I'll have to think about it some more.Actually, they look like they were tacked on after the fact due to the lack of rules for them and not designed in at all, but that is debatable.However, squares require quite a few modifications to the rules, but Conaill has already mentioned some of them (reach, movement). I will not reiterate those, but will mention some he did not (and some of these have been mentioned here on the boards before):X X ZY A YZ B CX D X EIf character A is flanked by two characters Z, he can move to square E via C with no AoOs.If character A is flanked by two characters Y, he can move to square D via B with an AoO from both Y characters. One orientation, he stays as far away as possible and he does not get attacked by either. The other orientation, he stays as far away as possible and gets attacked by both.Just one instance that you need a special rule. Hexes have no problem at all here.Another case is the Shield spell where the line is either drawn in front of the character (giving protection on only 3 squares out of 8 surrounding the character), or the entire line to one side is covered (giving a step function or staggered protection). One is more esthetic, one is more accurate (half of the squares).Ditto for a diagonal protection of the Shield spell in squares, except that the protection is always staggered squares.Hexes have a similar problem with the Shield spell, but not nearly as severe.You can pick the esthetic: I’m not going to bother drawing it here, but for those familiar with hex numbering schemes, if you are standing in hex 2239, it would protect nw 2139, n 2238, and ne 2339, but not sw 2140, s 2240, or se 2340. It would also not protect 2439 (2 hexes east) or 2039 (two hexes west). But, at least it covers 3 out of 6 hexes immediately surrounding the character.Or, you can pick the accurate where it protects 2439, 2639, etc., but still not 2039, 1839, etc. (or vice versa, depending on caster’s choice). Just like the square one side protection.But, there are two advantages here. The esthetic hex system covers 3 out of 6 (i.e. half) of the spaces as opposed to the esthetic square system covering 3 out of 8 spaces. This can be very important in close in melee with many opponents. The second advantage is that the hex system is always the same. There is not staggered diagonal approach like with squares since if you rotate the Shield by 60 degrees, you get the same effect rotated 60 degrees.Another problem with squares is the bizarre shapes that area effect spells create as per page 68 of the DMG. The Color Spray example there has the alternating square effect problem. For example, move 10 feet east and 5 south and you affect, move 10 feet east and 5 north and you do not affect.There is no facing in 3E. So, what’s the problem? Besides, there are more than 8 directions someone could walk. Squares are rather limiting, just like hexes in this regard.No doubt about it. Hexes have some problems too. But, two simple rules solve most of these:1) You can take two half hexes and use it as a full hex.2) Any half hex you move into resolves as if you had moved into its full hex.For example, your "What do you mean I can't turn right by 90 degrees?" problem. Solved. And as for the potential problems the second rules creates, well that just prevents character from using two half hexes when it is not advantageous. For example, if an opponent is in hex 0001 and another opponent is in hex 0004, you would not move through half hexes 0002 and 0003 and take an AoO from both, rather you would pick one hex or the other to move through. Ditto for if you were flanked by two opponents.</blockquote>

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