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01-14-2018, 01:41 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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TFT - Game Accessories
I was wondering a couple things regarding table top accessories for playing TFT in the modern age. I guess this is both asking if such things exist, and a wish list for TFT when the new version comes out.
1) Multi-hex bases for miniatures. For a giant or dragon, are there any companies that currently create miniature bases suitable for hex maps, with two, three and four hex arrangements? (A 7 hex for big dragons might be asking too much). Either flat for regular miniatures or slotted for Cardboard Heroes would be great. Could this possibly be something SJG might produce for TFT (especially since it would also be suitable for GURPS/Dungeon Fantasy?) 2) Durable mat with mega-hexes. Along the lines of a vinyl Chessex battlemat. Does such a thing exist? I don't know if any other games even use the mega-hex concept, so I'm thinking not. But I'd love to have a 3'x4' mat like the ones I currently use but with mega-hexes already printed on it. (Assuming the new TFT version still uses mega-hexes.) 3) When's TFT getting its own sub-forum? ;) |
01-14-2018, 03:10 PM | #2 |
President and EIC
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
All I can say now is that those are not invalid ideas. If someone specializing in battlemats wanted to do a megahex map, I'd listen. OTOH, if you are into making and painting big miniatures, creating a specific base is probably not much of a challenge. Laser cutter if you want to machine it, Sculpey if you want to sculpt it, probably lots of other options depending on what you work with.
Now that's an interesting point. Are the megahexes really useful, or do they just make the maps nonstandard? |
01-14-2018, 06:27 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: New England
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
I used a wet-erase battlemat that did not have megahexes, so I just counted hexes instead. It isn't onerous, and it makes standard hex mats/boards usable. A really nice wet/dry erase magnetic hex mat would be a great addition to a TFT boxed set.
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01-14-2018, 06:45 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
Megahexes would certainly call it out as being for TFT for sure. Maybe a dot to mark the center hex of each megahex; the marking becomes unobtrusive but still there.
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01-14-2018, 06:50 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Carrboro, NC
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
I like megahexes. It feels strange to me to play TFT on a plain hex map.
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01-14-2018, 10:14 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Dec 2017
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
It's worth questioning the value of MH, but I'm 'pro'. I particularly like the idea of using MH as a way to make range and area calculations quicker and more visually obvious.
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01-15-2018, 07:48 AM | #7 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
I like using minis, but not a big mini builder/painter myself. Fortunately, others I game with are moderate fig collectors, so we generally have what we need. When I need more, I have used Cardboard Heroes, Pathfinder Pawns, and plain ole dice. I also keep a Bag O' Zombies!!! in my DM bag that see a fair amount of use.
Of course, most of the larger figs are designed for square grids, with square or round bases. That's why I'd like to see the multi-hex bases for hex based games, and would really like Cardboard Hero compatible versions. (A 5-hex long CBH dragon would look awesome.) After doing a bit of searching, I think the simplest home made approach would be to take existing single hex fig bases and glue them into the various multi-hex configurations. To make them CBH compatible, it'd be easy enough to glue a CBH (or Pathfinder Pawn) base (or two) on top. Many hex bases I see though have slightly sloped edges. Any recommendations for hex bases with flat vertical sides, for better contact when gluing? Quote:
As for usefulness, I also like the quick visual calculation mega-hexes give. Again, would help my own GURPS averse players, who didn't like the range/speed calculation involved for ranged combat. |
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01-16-2018, 12:31 PM | #8 | ||
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
Quote:
Quote:
(Slightly off-topic, but still at least tangential...) Finally, didn't someone do a "conversion" thing where they showed how to convert megahexes into squares at one time? That might be a very useful tool for helping convert mapping into grid paper for buildings and the like, while simultaneously retaining the advantages of hexes for combat and range calculations. (I can't find it in my files right now, but I distinctly remember the author dealing with odd room shapes, corridors, T-intersections, and so on.) And hexes are enormously important to TFT's tactical combat simulation -- without them it not only wouldn't be the same, it also wouldn't work nearly as well. Last edited by JLV; 01-16-2018 at 12:35 PM. |
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01-16-2018, 03:15 PM | #9 | ||
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon, USA
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
Quote:
I'll quote myself here: Quote:
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01-16-2018, 03:46 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Arizona
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Re: TFT - Game Accessories
The "Conversion Thing" I'm talking about was an actual set of hexes, laid out to conform with squares, with appropriate rules (not many) on how to read and use them, which you could print out and use for play. I sure wish I could find the copy I KNOW I downloaded of them! ;-)
As far as the "official" dimensions of the hexes in TFT go, they were one hex = 1.3 meters, and a megahex = 4 meters. If a meter is 3.28 feet (which is close enough for my targeting work for guided weapons, and therefore should satisfy our requirements for accuracy here), then each hex equals 4.264 feet across (pretty close to five feet) and one megahex equals 13.12 feet across (which would actually be a bit more than we like to allow, but given that walls are always drawn on the lines of the graph paper, and are usually not trivial in thickness given medieval load-bearing wall construction techniques for above ground buildings, I think we can say that 10' is close enough. So yeah, not an issue. Last edited by JLV; 01-17-2018 at 02:46 AM. |
Tags |
game accessories, game aids, tft, the fantasy trip |
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