12-07-2018, 10:26 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
I've used similar coordinates for battle/encounter maps. Using the alphabet works great for small maps. It can still work fine for these larger, overworld maps if you start using AA, BB, CC, etc. after reaching Z but you'll keep having to increase the #of digits in your coordinate every 26 columns. (AAA, BBB, etc.)
I'd stick with the traditional number/number system for large and/or overworld hex maps. first column = 01, second column = 02, etc. Dranning - 2017 Osley - 1911 Newdelve - 1415 Using numbers has some nice mathematical properties. If you move south, you add 1 to your current hex#. If you move north, subtract 1. Moving in the easterly and westerly directions depends on whether or not you start numbering on the half-hexes on the edge of the map. Most that I've seen don't assign numbers to those half-hexes but you and I seem to be doing it here so... *** Moving north-west, subtract 101 from your current hex#. Moving north-east, add 100, then subtract 1 (yes, also known as adding 99 LOL). Moving south-west, subtract 100. Moving south-east, add 100. *** (assuming you have less than 100 rows/columns. if you have more than 100 rows, then you be adding/subtracting by 1000s.) *** EDIT *** Actually, these formulas aren't quite right. I figured this out a long time ago and thought I remembered how it worked. There is a formula to it though. I just can't remember it and I'm too tired (late at night) to re-figure it out right now. I think there are alternations. Like, you subtract 101 if you're in an even column or 100 if you're in an odd column, etc.
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Miranda Warning: Anything you say can and will be used against you in a forum of rules-lawyers. Last edited by platimus; 12-07-2018 at 11:12 PM. |
12-08-2018, 04:38 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
Wasn’t there a standard system used by SPI back in the 70’s? I think that Avalon Hill had a system (the same?) as well.
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12-08-2018, 08:54 AM | #4 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
I'm not sure if the previous comment refers to my post or the OP. I have no idea what Avalon Hill used but here is a piece of a numbered hex-map...
https://imgur.com/5AGktpo I think every hex-map I've ever seen was numbered like that (if it was numbered). Note the half-hexes at the edges aren't numbered. Here's the formulas for movement on a map numbered like this (useful for programmed/programming hex-plore adventures, etc.): Move north, subtract 1 from current hex-number. Move south, add 1. North-west, subtract 100 if your current column is even. Subtract 101 if odd. North-east, add 100 if your current column is even. Add 99 if odd. South-west, subtract 99 if your current column is even. Subtract 100 if odd. South-east, add 101 if your current column is even. Add 100 if odd.
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Miranda Warning: Anything you say can and will be used against you in a forum of rules-lawyers. |
12-08-2018, 12:08 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: behind you
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
LOL
Yeah, when I started using [letter][number] for encounter maps, my inspiration was chess, battleship, and bingo!
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Miranda Warning: Anything you say can and will be used against you in a forum of rules-lawyers. |
12-08-2018, 12:51 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
Quote:
Avalon Hill's system was to label each diagonal row with a letter (if necessary going into double letters; e.g.; "AA"), and each column with a one-up number. Thus, you would have something like "N15" as a location identifier. Again, relatively simple, though sometimes it was easy to get confused as to what precise letter applied to a given hex... |
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12-09-2018, 04:55 AM | #8 |
Join Date: Jul 2018
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Re: What are your map coordinates?
Yeah, JLV, the SPI system is *very* simple and easy to use. I would recommend anyone who is trying to PBeM, use this for their arenas. In fact, it would be nice if SJG would “endorse” a the use a coordinate system to facilitate PBeM.
My preference would be the SPI system and clockwise numbering of hex sides. This would allow for precise position and facing in a simple, short code: The counter is located on Map A in column 2, row 4, and facing hex side 1 would be annotated as A020401. This also allows a complete textual description of the map itself as all that would be needed to describe the shape of a map is a list of hex numbers. For instance a 50 hex “square” arena might be described as simply as 0000-5050, obstacles, dropped objects, bodies, etc would be could also be easily located. Once the map was established, either Play By eMail (PBeM) or Play By Text Message (PBTM) would be super fast and simple. This is a great thread! I have a friend in Maryland (I’m in Georgia) with whom I’d like to try this out. |
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