Emergent hex crawl in FG

[claedawg]

If you find Gimp hard to use (it is very different from most paint programs). The free for noncommercial use IrfanView has a batch processor as well. I've used IrfanView for years for simple image modifications: resizing, de-rezzing, lower the bit rate, file type conversions ie anything but creation. It does *NOT* handle transparency though.

I don't think you understand my ineptitude with art software. When you say batch, all I can think of is making a batch file on a disk so that windows will automatically boot up, instead of me manually opening windows from the c prompt, on my tandy, lol.

[LordEntrails]

I don't think you understand my ineptitude with art software. When you say batch, all I can think of is making a batch file on a disk so that windows will automatically boot up, instead of me manually opening windows from the c prompt, on my tandy, lol.

If you get stuck on the outline steps I gave above, I can walk you through the process with Gimp via Discord.

[Griogre]

I don't think you understand my ineptitude with art software. When you say batch, all I can think of is making a batch file on a disk so that windows will automatically boot up, instead of me manually opening windows from the c prompt, on my tandy, lol.

No worries. Batch processing does have its history in batch files like that and also in submitted jobs for mainframes - but for art programs it usually means make a common change to a "batch" of pictures in the same folder - in this case a bunch of hex graphics. Rather than change a few hundred hex graphics one at a time you would automatically do all the changes to them all at once.

[claedawg]

If you get stuck on the outline steps I gave above, I can walk you through the process with Gimp via Discord.

I may hit you up on that if I need help and get around to mapping again, lol.

Thanks for the clarification Griogre!!!

[paladinlee]

Perfect, thanks! I got this working. I found these tiles as well. It says they are "compatible" with Hex Kit, which is another hexmap tool. But, the file contains the graphic elements that I can use in just as easily. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/prod...et-for-hex-kit

I'm referring to this good ol' article from Gnomestew to generate hexes as the party explores. https://gnomestew.com/a-randomized-hex-crawl-generator/

Screenshot 2024-05-13 154633.png

[Trenloe]

Perfect, thanks! I got this working. I found these tiles as well. It says they are "compatible" with Hex Kit, which is another hexmap tool. But, the file contains the graphic elements that I can use in just as easily. https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/prod...et-for-hex-kit

I'm referring to this good ol' article from Gnomestew to generate hexes as the party explores. https://gnomestew.com/a-randomized-hex-crawl-generator/

Screenshot 2024-05-13 154633.png

Looks great! Thanks for the link to the hex graphics.

[LordEntrails]

Interesting. HAve you put rollable tables into FG so you don't have to refer to the gnomestew site? Seems like it would be straightforward, but haven't tried yet myself.

[LordEntrails]

Thinking more on this... with rollable tables and Story Templates you could not only determine the Hex terrain, but you could create a story that you could pin to the map. And that story could also contain randomly created encounters and other details...

[Trenloe]

And here is another example using 2 Minute Table Top's World Hex Tiles.

PWYW/$1: https://2minutetabletop.com/product/...map-hex-tiles/
$5: https://2minutetabletop.com/product/...ex-tiles-pack/

I used the 150DPI tiles with a hex size in FGU of 200. The gotcha here is with the pseudo 3D effect, you'll need to change the order of some of the tiles to display correctly.

What I like about these tiles is that the rivers, paths, etc. aren't embedded into a tile, they're transparent images that you can lay on top of other tiles.

[LordEntrails]

This is all making me seriously consider running a hex crawl next campaign!