Hex Education #1 Generating Hex Type

Before we begin the official lesson, there are a couple things I am assuming:

1. Your group of players are aware and interested in playing in a hex-based adventure. It does require more from them, and it's not for everyone. Or you could just be doing this for fun, yourself.

2. You have hexes to work with. This can be with programs such as Hex Kit, or Worldographer, or even good ol' fashioned hex paper. I am not sponsored by any of these folks (so use whatever you like), but I'll admit I'm a paper shill.

3. You're using 6-mile hexes. You can always go with larger hexes, but I wouldn't go with anything smaller than 5-mile hexes. If larger, and you want to create a whole continent, you have *a lot* more work ahead of you.

Good, now that we've got those out of the way, we may begin. 

I first begin with 6 types of hexes: Plains/Grassland, Forest, Swamp/Marsh, Hills, Mountain, and Water. These are the basic ones, but you can add Desert, Jungle, or Arctic hexes as well.

1. Assign each type a number on a d6. If you have more than these types, then use a larger dice.

2. Choose a random spot on your blank map, and roll 1d6, and assign that hex with the specified type. 

3. Once the first hex has been decided, you will choose an adjacent hex, and roll 1d20. 

- 1-10: Hex type stays the same.

- 11-19: Roll a d6 (or whatever dice you used to determine beginning type) and assign the hex the corresponding type.

- 20: This indicates that there is a very valuable resource here. Then, roll again.

*After each Mountain hex, roll another d20. On a 1, there is an active volcano.

**After each Water hex, roll a d8. On a 1, there is an island.

When generating hex types, you are ALWAYS building off of the last one you completed, and must do your absolute best to stay adjacent. This will create a pattern of like-hexes with occasional variants instead of absolute chaos.

How big should the map be? The map shown below is 150 miles, North to South, and 162 miles East to West at its longest points. PLENTY of room for adventure. 

SEE? It's that easy! I knew you could do it. Honestly, most of the work is already done. Be proud of your accomplishment! Please share your maps so we may all see your brilliance!

I think next time we'll see about populating them there hexes.