Scales of maps and play - Page 2

Rick_Smith · 03-21-2018, 02:27 AM

Hi all,
The Lords of the Underearth (LotU) maps had hexagons which were a Mega-Mega-Mega hex. The turns were 2 minutes long (not going to look it up but I think that is right). On my vinyl hex map, I've drawn Megahexes (Mh) in dotted black, Mega-Mh in red and Mega-Mega-Mh in solid black.

So I could run a combat between two companies of LotU counters on my melee map, which I think is pretty cool.

I don't have the exact numbers at hand, but I found if the TFT hexes were something like 1.28 meters apart from center to center then the LotU hexes were exactly 20 meters across. Also, at 1.28 meters, the hexes were TOO LONG for the approximation of 1 hex = 1 meter if you measured distances along the hex grain, and the hexes were TOO SHORT for the 1 hex = 1 meter, if you measured distances along the alternate hex grain.

So I could say that the hexes were 1.28 if anyone cared a lot, but just use the 1 hex = 1 meter approximation. It was right if you were measuring part way between the hex and alternate hex grain. (Too long one way and too short the other way.) Close enough for me to say 1 hex = 1 meter on average and have an excuse to make it work.

I figured out what the size of the campaign maps had to be to make they Mega-Mega-Mh of the LotU hexes, but I never made maps with nested Mh at that level. The Judges Guild mapping system just worked better, or I would draw maps with no hexes on them and use those for maps of kingdoms and the like.

Anyway, I spent some time playing with hexagon sizes and found a really sweet compromise.

:-D

Warm regards, Rick.

03-21-2018, 02:27 AM	#1
Rick_Smith Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Coquitlam B.C.	Re: Scales of maps and play Hi all, The Lords of the Underearth (LotU) maps had hexagons which were a Mega-Mega-Mega hex. The turns were 2 minutes long (not going to look it up but I think that is right). On my vinyl hex map, I've drawn Megahexes (Mh) in dotted black, Mega-Mh in red and Mega-Mega-Mh in solid black. So I could run a combat between two companies of LotU counters on my melee map, which I think is pretty cool. I don't have the exact numbers at hand, but I found if the TFT hexes were something like 1.28 meters apart from center to center then the LotU hexes were exactly 20 meters across. Also, at 1.28 meters, the hexes were TOO LONG for the approximation of 1 hex = 1 meter if you measured distances along the hex grain, and the hexes were TOO SHORT for the 1 hex = 1 meter, if you measured distances along the alternate hex grain. So I could say that the hexes were 1.28 if anyone cared a lot, but just use the 1 hex = 1 meter approximation. It was right if you were measuring part way between the hex and alternate hex grain. (Too long one way and too short the other way.) Close enough for me to say 1 hex = 1 meter on average and have an excuse to make it work. I figured out what the size of the campaign maps had to be to make they Mega-Mega-Mh of the LotU hexes, but I never made maps with nested Mh at that level. The Judges Guild mapping system just worked better, or I would draw maps with no hexes on them and use those for maps of kingdoms and the like. Anyway, I spent some time playing with hexagon sizes and found a really sweet compromise. :-D Warm regards, Rick.