Numbered hexmap?

[Deleted]

Hey everyone,
Getting ready to run my first AS&SH campaign, and I wanted to do a pretty classic hexcrawl, but I've hit a snag. I use 6-mile hexes, and planned to just change the key to read "1 Hex = 36 miles" which lets me use the lovely prebuilt hex templates I found at the Hydra's Grotto.

My problem is determining how to label my subhexes with regard to the campaign map. I'm inclined to go and number the hexes on the Hyperborea map (especially now that we have a full page pdf one!), but that seems awfully time-consuming. Anyone have any better ideas?

-Phillip

[Deleted]

A slightly less time consuming way is to use the Darlene-Greyhawk method: letter and number columns!!!

Rather than doing this on the full large map, because it can also be a hassle lining up to find a particular hex, I have turned the large map into sixteen rectangular grids (8"x10" each) then marked each of them with their own alpha and numeric coordinates along the sides. It's been easier to manage. Plus, it's nice to see the map of Hyperborea at 44" x 34" (Darlene-Greyhawk-sized!)

Thank you, Lord Ghul, for the updated scrollable full-scale map!

I'm working on a 25 rectangular grid map to break it down further. Each large grid (8"x10") is roughly 20 x 30 hexes of the Hyperborea map.

[blackadder23]

You could use the lines of longitude and latitude as a reference.

[premmy]

How do you use lines of longitude and latitude in a flat hexagonal world where the closest thing to a "North" is its centre?

[Deleted]

May 9, 2013 5:00:59 GMT -6 @geffyl said:

A slightly less time consuming way is to use the Darlene-Greyhawk method: letter and number columns!!!

Great idea! I totally didn't think of that, but I'll give it try tonight. Thanks!

[blackadder23]

May 9, 2013 11:51:39 GMT -6 premmy said:

How do you use lines of longitude and latitude in a flat hexagonal world where the closest thing to a "North" is its centre?

The same way you would use them on Earth, I guess. I assume they're printed on the map for a reason:



Personally I'm not worried about it, because I doubt the ability of characters in a fantasy world to know their map location with any great precision. I probably won't even tell my players which map hex they're in - "somewhere in here" is close enough for the primitive screwheads who inhabit Hyperborea. Does anyone really think Conan knew his "hex location" when he was roaming the wilderness? Besides being more "realistic" (IMO) this has the added benefit of letting me adjust the actual location of the players a bit if it would make for a more entertaining game.

[mabon5127]

Great post! Longitude and latitude sound better than Hex#

Morgan

[Deleted]

The same way you would use them on Earth, I guess. I assume they're printed on the map for a reason:

I honestly don't know how to do that, but it sounds pretty useful. Any idea how you use the longitude/latitude lines on the map to reference a specific hex?

Personally I'm not worried about it, because I doubt the ability of characters in a fantasy world to know their map location with any great precision. I probably won't even tell my players which map hex they're in

I totally agree with you there. I don't plan on doing that either. I tend to describe locations to players based on landmarks they can see, such as "north of that valley you passed" or "between the two mountain chains", etc. Of course, I still need to know where they are though, which is the purpose of my questions...

[Deleted]

I still go for making it easy for the referee.

Where is Khromarium? hex C4.

Yes, it is overly simplified...

...although, I'll be fair and try and get my head around longitude/latitude lines.

[blackadder23]

Khromarium is roughly 53 degrees N by 9 degrees E.

There's nothing wrong with using a letter and number grid if that's what you prefer. I personally find the latitude and longitude system to be more evocative and unique to AS&SH, and I'm not that concerned with absolute precision. PCs really don't need any kind of coordinates to let them know they're in a city, right? And if they're in the wilderness (at least IMO) they'll be lucky to find their butts with both hands and an electric torch. If they're not exactly sure where they are, I don't necessarily feel I need to be either. But I like to keep things pretty loose to leave more room for improvisation; I prefer, in other words, not to be tied down too much. I don't even use hexes when I draw my own campaign maps - just a blank sheet of paper and a rough scale. I understand that style is not for everyone, so other referees should handle it in a way that best suits their preferences.

[Ghul]

Welcome to the forum, Phillip! I'm a bit late to the party on this topic; it sounds like you've been offered a variety of solutions to your problem. Personally, I don't label hexes in that old Juges Guild style, and I do prefer the use of longitude and latitude, or the Greyhawk method mentioned. Best of luck with your campaign, and I look forward to hearing more about it soon!

Cheers,
Jeff T.

[Deleted]

Thanks for all the advice! I went ahead and used the Greyhawk number/letter system on a section of the continent map, and it works like a charm!

Our first session involved escaping from a frontier fort being overrun by Kimmeri-kelt barbarians (a la Beyond the Black River), and a survival trek to the great city of Khromarium. There, a mysterious benefactor (Joop Van Ooms in fact), has offered the group a healthy reward to find a magic item in some snowy mountains to the north. I plan on running Death Frost Doom next session, and then beginning a semi-sandbox with side-missions after that (for whoever survives).

The session went smashingly, with very little confusion about the rules and lots of cool moments. Okay, they basically ran from everything, but it made perfect sense to me!!

I just want to thank you, Jeff, for your clear, evocative game. It has the perfect mix of Conan and D&D for me (not always easy to mix). It's already paid for itself in entertainment value just reading it!

[mabon5127]

Sounds like a pretty cool, hit the ground running, way of starting a campaign. Welcome to the boards and keep us posted about the game!

Morgan

[Ghul]

May 12, 2013 13:50:33 GMT -6 @maitete said:

Thanks for all the advice! I went ahead and used the Greyhawk number/letter system on a section of the continent map, and it works like a charm!

Our first session involved escaping from a frontier fort being overrun by Kimmeri-kelt barbarians (a la Beyond the Black River), and a survival trek to the great city of Khromarium. There, a mysterious benefactor (Joop Van Ooms in fact), has offered the group a healthy reward to find a magic item in some snowy mountains to the north. I plan on running Death Frost Doom next session, and then beginning a semi-sandbox with side-missions after that (for whoever survives).

The session went smashingly, with very little confusion about the rules and lots of cool moments. Okay, they basically ran from everything, but it made perfect sense to me!!

I just want to thank you, Jeff, for your clear, evocative game. It has the perfect mix of Conan and D&D for me (not always easy to mix). It's already paid for itself in entertainment value just reading it!

This is quite excellent, and thank you for sharing! I particularly love the tension created by a "Beyond the Black River" themed session. It sounds like a heck of a lot of fun, maitete, and I look forward to hearing more! --Cheers, Jeff T.