For those of you who would play X-Wing on a hex board.

[Flux Cobalt 6]

These are just proto types but I hand etched hexagons on 1/8 inch clear plastic sheets.  Each sheet measures 24 x 18 inches.  The reason for 24 x 18 inch sheets was made for portability reasons.  You would need 4 sheets to make 1 game board at 4 x 3 feet.  The hexes are 2 inches which I felt is a good size for the fighters though it may be a bit awkward for the large ships.  I chose clear plastic so I could play on any star field background when our game group decides to play X-Wing on the hex board.  Plus it can be used for any game.  I plan on having these massed produced with laser etching and maybe on black plastic, so if anyone has seen anything like this before let me know please.  So for anyone who would play X-Wing on a hex board, what do you think about this idea and would you buy a set?  I have not figured out the pricing yet but I will get that information soon.  I would post the pictures but I could not find the attachment icon.  So how do you post pictures? 

 

 

Flux

[oneway 1,878]

Why would anyone want to play it on a hex map, its much better as it is.

Though, if one were to use a hex map, why would you need movement templates, you can much more easily use the board itself to move.. and range easily calculated by so many hexes for which range you're shooting at...

I've played many old games on hex maps and it's just easier counting hexes to find range and for this game with its banks and hard turns you could do the same, just have a diagram printed out that the type of turn and how it's done..

To post pictures go through a picture hosting site, like photobucket, then add the image files to your posts here.

Edited March 1, 2014 by oneway

[Lappenlocker 208]

I wouldn't buy it. How do hexes improve play? Instead, hex maps would be confusing. When a ship bumps another ship, it's not on a hex. When a ship starts in a hex and makes a turn or bank, does it wind up in a full hex? Hexes can be used for count range instead of the better uncertainty from free flight and estimated distance.

Nope. Keep the hex map away from my X-Wing. This isn't chocolate and peanut butter. It's more like sauerkraut and marshmallows.

Edited March 1, 2014 by Lappenlocker

[Forgottenlore 9,824]

Really, with the way the movement templates work, the game is sort of already played on a grid of some sort, it's just the templates allow it to disappear from the users point of view.

[Lappenlocker 208]

Really, with the way the movement templates work, the game is sort of already played on a grid of some sort, it's just the templates allow it to disappear from the users point of view.

Nope. The first bump of a ship into another ship during a turn/bank throws it off grid.

[SteveSpikes 77]

Hexes!?  Really?!  If you want to play on a hex board, you probably could find Starship Battles minis dirt cheap on Ebay.

In one word -- PASS!

[Forgottenlore 9,824]

Nope. The first bump of a ship into another ship during a turn/bank throws it off grid.

True, it isn't perfect, but the fact remains that the movement templates give you most of the mechanical advantages of playing on a grid, while making it feel free form.

[ziggy2000 169]

 

Really, with the way the movement templates work, the game is sort of already played on a grid of some sort, it's just the templates allow it to disappear from the users point of view.

Nope. The first bump of a ship into another ship during a turn/bank throws it off grid.

 

This is one of the reasons why this game is so brilliant. When I saw the first attempts on BGG to adapt this game to hex play, I thought "These people just don't get it". Close calls for range, firing arc, overlapping etc. etc. etc. are what make the game unique and encourage interaction between the participants rather than just relying on rules. Human error in the form of bumping, jostling, template placing and a hundred other variables are the very heart of the gameplay experience. Adapting it to hex play removes all of that and makes it much more cold and sterile. If that's what you want then there are many other systems out there to choose from. Please don't mess with this one, it's fine as it is.

Edited March 2, 2014 by ziggy2000

[UnfairBanana 2,251]

I'd like to see a ground-based hex game.
Not space though. Keep this game as wonderful as it is

[Flux Cobalt 6]

   Movement templates are not new to gaming but playing X-Wing on a hex board is just another way to play the game.  Our group plays with the hex board and without, it provides a different strategic aspect.  All I am trying to do is provide variety for the game.

 

 

Flux

Edited March 2, 2014 by Flux Cobalt

[RookiePilot 616]

I feel the blind movement planning and having to guess where the maneuver will actually place me were the two biggest draws for me to embracing the game. Taking the move templates out would diminish the fun for me. Zipping through an asteroid field or hugging the side of the board is a lot less exciting when you know with certainty that you are safe.

[Lappenlocker 208]

So for anyone who would play X-Wing on a hex board, what do you think about this idea and would you buy a set?  I have not figured out the pricing yet but I will get that information soon.

  

Movement templates are not new to gaming but playing X-Wing on a hex board is just another way to play the game.  Our group plays with the hex board and without, it provides a different strategic aspect.  All I am trying to do is provide variety for the game.

You asked for opinions and if anyone would buy a set. When you ask for opinions, you are going to get them, regardless of your intention.

My two credits, in addition to my solicited opinion earlier, is that I think the overwhelming majority will say, "No thanks," and spend their money on more miniatures.

[Parravon 5,216]

Some of you are a bit harsh on ol' Flux there. He's just trying something different and I quite like the concept. The first Star Wars starfighter game I had was Star Warriors and it was hex based. You could play that on Flux's hex grid with the mini's and it would look fantastic. Don't take a dump on the guy just 'cos he's trying something different. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars:_The_Roleplaying_Game_(West_End_Games)#Spinoffs

[oneway 1,878]

For myself, I feel it makes the game less... the game works fine as it is, and if the designers wanted a hex based game they would have made it.. and probably not have done as well as they have. Just my opinion, but as someone that has played a multitude of older games like Panzer Blitz and Tobruk and all sorts of games like that, I feel a hex map for thiss one depreciates it and ruins the concept... that whole ... out in space feel it has... and I feel a hex map will kill some of the basic concepts as well. Which changes the game from what it is meant to be.

[KCDodger 10,596]

Geez guys, no need to zip down your pants and spray down the guy...

[Flux Cobalt 6]

   Don’t get me wrong, I love the game design as it was originally intended to be played.  Some people like to play what some would call a more structured game.  I like to play without the hex board and with the hex board.  oneway said: "I feel a hex map will kill some of the basic concepts as well."  In your opinion oneway, what basic concepts are affected?  The only thing I feel is really different is the firing arc is 60 degrees instead of 90 degrees.  And to some extent the bumping factor is greatly reduced.  But it’s just another way to play a great game.

 

Flux

Edited March 3, 2014 by Flux Cobalt

[Khyros 4,218]

I would have to think that the game would be better on an octagonal map than a hex map, even though the octagons can't be the same repeating shape and need squares mixed in.  Don't get me wrong, I prefer to use the maneuver templates, but if it was to be gridded, the hex just seems to be lacking.  For example, if you have it such that a 5 forward means skip over 5 hexs and then put yourself facing forward in the 6th... that works great for N-S playing... but doesn't work at all for E-W playing.  Furthermore, the bank maneuvers could work, but how does one do a turn?  There's no 90 degree element to a hex.

[haslo 950]

Yeah, turns would have to be multiples of 60°, not 45°, to really work with hexes.

 

Personally, I think I'd rather play a game that was designed for hexes on a hex map ... something like the upcoming Talon by Jim Krohn (who made the awesome Space Empires: 4X and Band of Brothers games).

 

X-Wing is perfect just the way it is, to me. It only got better until now, and I really hope that FFG keeps the quality with the coming waves and capital ships on such a high level.

Edited March 3, 2014 by haslo

[Parravon 5,216]

   Don’t get me wrong, I love the game design as it was originally intended to be played.  Some people like to play what some would call a more structured game.  I like to play without the hex board and with the hex board.  oneway said: "I feel a hex map will kill some of the basic concepts as well."  In your opinion oneway, what basic concepts are affected?  The only thing I feel is really different is the firing arc is 60 degrees instead of 90 degrees.  And to some extent the bumping factor is greatly reduced.  But it’s just another way to play a great game.

 

Flux

I think you'll find that some people can't think outside the square... or hex in this case. I like your idea, but have a look at Star Warriors for another option as well. 

[Hrathen 1,463]

 

Nope. The first bump of a ship into another ship during a turn/bank throws it off grid.

True, it isn't perfect, but the fact remains that the movement templates give you most of the mechanical advantages of playing on a grid, while making it feel free form.

 

Even without bumping the ships rotate 90 degrees or 45 degrees.  To simulate that you would need octagons not hexagons, Unfortunately octagons don't tessellate.

[stegocent 1,052]

Just use the Babylon 5 Wars rules. This is way you don't need to balance anything and the rule set allows you to blow parts off your opponents ships.

[Hexis 1,776]

It's not really X-Wing on a hex grid.  It's some other game using the miniatures.

[stegocent 1,052]

X-wing on a hex grid isn't X-wing either.

I've been using the B5 Wars rules for star wars ships for years and works great. Its so much better than any other rule set out there

[Dogwood2 99]

I like War Rocket - it's fast-paced and easy to learn, and has a nice balance between slow, powerful, big ships and small, fast, lightly-armed fighters.  It works with a hex map or simply hex-shaped bases.

 

I don't really see the point of playing X-Wing on a hex map though.

[Flux Cobalt 6]

   One reason I wanted to try X-Wing on a hex board is to have a different movement system. I am a long time Starfleet Battles player from the late 1970’s when Starfleet Battles started as a pocket edition game, so maybe that’s why I gravitated towards the hex board.  For me the only big difference of playing X-Wing on a hex board is the movement system.  It is good to know how other people feel about this game.  From what little research I have done this seems to be one of the most popular games out there.  After playing Starfleet Battles for so long I do enjoy the simplicity of this game.  You set-up, fly, shoot, destroy and repeat.  Anyway, thanks for all of the replies.  I like to know what people think about the different aspects of the game.

 

Flux