Why not just use hexes?

[Malin Genie]

It certainly would lead to some changes - like only 6 creatures could surround another creature of the same size, but would any of those changes be 'bad'?

Is there some feature of the rules that I'm missing that would change drastically for the worse if using hexes rather than squares?

Hexes help solve the range problems (with 2 'diagonal' squares /neq 2 orthogonal squares, but being treated the same...) and their symmetry (as all 6 surrounding hexes ar 'equal') is pleasing (IMHO)...

 

[SpikeyFreak]

I think you'll find that a lot of people DO use hexes.

I can't see how it would berak any rules. The only real difficulty is trying to figure out if a chreature can fit in the half-hex caused when you have a square room on a hex map.

--It's-Hip-To-Be-▬ Spikey

 

[Ravellion]

Visualisation is a problem IMO. All those jagged edges.... *shivers*

How would you place a thin wall...?

Rav

 

[EOL]

Mostly it's just a question of drawing maps. If all your combat's take place on featureless planes rather than dungeons with lots of square rooms, then Hexes are clearly superior.

 

[Crothian]

"It's Hip to be Square" Huey Lewis and the News

Ya, that doesn't date me. I've yet to use hex maps. Square maps are nice to draw on and fit large monsters in. How do you handle being halfway into a hex or sharing a hex with the wall?

 

[Deadguy]

Visualisation is a problem IMO. All those jagged edges.... *shivers*

How would you place a thin wall...?

Rav

I do sympathise Rav!

Many years ago I used to play a system called Dragon Quest which had a complex Action Point combat system i[]and[/i] used a Hex Map system. Now I was lucky enough to get a hold of Hex Paper, but I always found it difficult to draw maps onto it. There's something about the hexes that distorts my sense of perspective and warps the maps I draw!

So, whilst I am used to the tactical mapping of 3e, I still can't face the idea of going to a hex map!

 

[KarinsDad]

How do you handle being halfway into a hex or sharing a hex with the wall?

How do you handle being halfway into a square or sharing a square with the curved wall?

How about triangular shaped rooms?

Or 30 degree corridors?

Or, cone shaped area of effects?

Or, circular shaped area of effects?

What do you do about the AoO problems caused by squares? For example:

X Y X
X X X
A B C
X X X

A and C flank B. If B moves to Y, then A and C both get AoOs (moving through 2 threatened spaces).

X X X Y
A X X X
X B X X
X X C X

A and C flank B. If B moves to Y, then neither A nor C get AoOs (moving through 1 threatened space).

There are a lot more problems with squares than hexes. And, hexes do not require that you have special 5' 10' 5' diagonal rules for movement and reach.


Hexes are vastly superior for a variety of reasons and can easily be used, even in square rooms.

 

[Crothian]

Actually, we've never had any problems or complaints for using square spaces. Cirlces, cones, and 30 degree coridoors are easy to deal with. None of the other things have ever happened. I imagine it'd be the same with hexes, but hexes don't seem so superior that I would change, they actually seem about equal.

 

[Mal Malenkirk]

My first battlemat was hexed. I converted to square after a while.

Hexes do work, but I can draw better maps faster on a squared grid.

 

[Hejdun]

I think I'd go insane, especially if I had to map my upcoming RttToEE campaign all in hexes.

Vicious.