Running on a grid as opposed to hexes

[Daeglan]

Is there any major problems with running on a grid as opposed to hexes? I have some maps that are on grids I would like to use.

[alaph]

turning becomes less precise....

[Daeglan]

You can move in 8 directions as opposed to 6....

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Daeglan

Is there any major problems with running on a grid as opposed to hexes? I have some maps that are on grids I would like to use.

diagonals are always going to be a problem, as they don't exist on hexes but do on squares. also, casting spells, areas, and anything like that will need to be changed as a 2 yards radius will not be 2 squares in every direction, once again because of diagonals.

if you use facing and turning you'll need to modify those rules. You'll only have 1 front hex, which means 75% of the time people are attacking from the sides or back, and the defender will take the penalty to defenses.

counter question: any major problems playing chess on a hex instead of a grid?

[Celti]

Originally Posted by JMD

counter question: any major problems playing chess on a hex instead of a grid?

You need to add a third bishop, but other than that it works pretty well.


My suggestion for trying to run GURPS on a square grid instead of a hex grid is: ignore the grid, and pull out your ruler. You can more-or-less eyeball facing and turning, and you don't have to worry about X hexes is Y squares - it's all in yards.

[cmdicely]

Originally Posted by Celti

My suggestion for trying to run GURPS on a square grid instead of a hex grid is: ignore the grid, and pull out your ruler.

Or use the free GURPS Range Ruler.

[Anthony]

On a hexagonal map, the maximum error due to pathing is roughly 15% (i.e. a distance of X will be counted off as 1.15X). On a square map, the maximum error is roughly 41%.

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Celti

You need to add a third bishop, but other than that it works pretty well.

Actually the bishop and rook cease to have distinct moves.

Bill Stoddard

[whswhs]

Originally Posted by Anthony

On a hexagonal map, the maximum error due to pathing is roughly 15% (i.e. a distance of X will be counted off as 1.15X). On a square map, the maximum error is roughly 41%.

You can reduce that significantly by (a) combining 1 vertical + 1 horizontal into 1 diagonal whenever possible and (b) counting 1 diagonal as 1 1/2 spaces.

Bill Stoddard

[gjc8]

Originally Posted by JMD

counter question: any major problems playing chess on a hex instead of a grid?

You do have to be precise about what is meant by "diagonal", to avoid the problem Bill Stoddard mentions. Glinski Chess is a relatively popular hexagonal chess variant.