"Space Hex Map?" Topic

It looks like "War Rocket" is played on a hex-grid map.

Does anyone know of any sources for one?

Also, what size hexes are used? From the look from the picture of the demo game they use some pretty big hexes.

Thanks,
Tim

Hi Tim:

The War Rocket rules are written for both hex and free-form play. We use 2" hex mats from Hotz Mats in Canada. However, we've arranged to sell the Hotz Mats in our online store in the next 2-3 weeks.

Hex mats can simplify play, but you can still have great games on a simple black cloth until the hex mats are in stock.

Matt Beauchamp
Hydra Miniatures
hydraminiatures.com

War Rocket is played on a plain or hex grid map, your choice."A hex mat with 2 inch hexes (measured from flat edge to flat edge) is generally recommended." War Rocket page 63. I believe the mat we played on in Gen Con was over 1 inch, but not 2 inches. I buy mats from Hotz, here hotzartworks.com Eric Hotz makes a very good product but be prepared to wait a long time and his customer service skills aren't the greatest. Spaceman's Luck
P>S> Didn't see Matts post when I wrote mine. I'd buy from Hydra.

I've heard nothing but good about Hotz goods, but Monday Knight Productions took over the old GeoHex line, should you be TOO impatient… ;->=

link

They were only using the smaller ships in the demo I was in in KC, and 1" hexes would have sufficed, but I'll let the expert's comment stand.

Doug

Edit: Viz customer service, MK have been good to me, but most businesses are small, subject serious RL issues, and even they occasionally seem to have gotten a speck of mud.

Note on Hotz: the "4x6" mats are NOT "4x6". They're smaller than that. You'll need to buy their larger mat to actually cover a 4x6 area.

Thanks all for the quick replys.

Tim

Hotz mats are, with hexes or squares: 45 x 72 inches which is: 3.75 ft x 6 feet. This is noted clearly at the Hotz Mats website. Hex sizes available on the game mats are: 1, 1.5. 1.75, 2, 3, 4 and 5 inch hexes. Square sizes: 1, 2 and 4 inch squares.

Current wait time is up to 5 weeks as all orders are custom made when a customer places an order.

Hotz mats are producing a run of Deep Space mats this week, so if you place an order this week, it will arrive sooner than 5 weeks. Hotz mats are also producing a run of Mars Red game mats this week.

I got my playing surface at Monday Knight, and I second the recommendation for their game mats, which come with and without hexes: link

Hotz mats are, with hexes or squares: 45 x 72 inches which is: 3.75 ft x 6 feet

The one I received a few years ago was considerably smaller than that…variations in felt?

The one I received a few years ago was considerably smaller than that variations in felt?

Can't say. What did you order?

Felt can shrink during productions, but that usually is less than 1/2 an inch. Sometimes the game mats end up being slightly longer than 72 inches; it depends.

4x6

Was closer to 45 x 68. With the hex grid not touching the edges the usable area was even smaller. :-(

I ended up making my own "star field" mat. Here's how:

1. Buy a piece of black fabric from a fabric store. The one I bought is 5' x 9' and it cost less than $10. USD You can use any type but this one is sorta stretchy, dead flat black, and has no texture. It also doesn't get wrinkled if bunched up or folded.

2. Use a large stiff brush to pick up some medium cobalt blue paint and, holding the brush towards the mat, run a plastic ruler or wooden stick across the bristles. The bristles will "fling" the paint at the cloth making little stars! Repeat with light blue and then white paint.

Done! The result looks just like the star field in the Star Wars movies. If one must add hexes just use a template which you can print out from your computer for the cost of a single sheet of paper. I get loads of compliments on my mat and even though it's 5x9 it cost only $10 USD or so in materials and took only 20 minutes to make.

Wartopia: send it back; we will give you a full refund.

E.H.

That's alright, the kids have had fun with it! :-)

Now, Wartopia, you know he's just wanting you to stop with the whole DIY angle.

I have to say, for a non-hex map, do it yourself is an excellent solution, especially if you have a non-standard table.

I favor sputter airbrush tips, but that's only if you have the brush anyway.

Once you get to adding a hex pattern, and I occasionally play a game on hexes, I find the trying to cover a large sheet such a hassle as to make it well worth the expense.

This is especially true as I'm trying to figure which War Rocket minis to proxy for which Hard Vacuum ships. ;->=

Doug

I use the Geo-hex one produced for the Star Blazers game. Here is a pic in use:

picture

@Only Warlock

Not sure if you caught my previous post, but Geo-Hex is no more, its product lines taken over by Monday Knight Productions, just in case you ever need to replace.

That said, you serve a lovely table. ;->=

Doug