"My new 'Command & Colors' 6mm 'subtle' hex board! -pics." Topic

I have finally completed my hex grid terrain board for C&C Napoleonics. After a LOT of thought and experimentation I went with a subtle use of hex points only, dotted in yellow. I'm happy with this as I think it retains the look and feel of a conventional miniatures game but using boardgame rules. Much more on my blog (link below) should anybody care to go and have a read.

Thanks to all who contributed to my recent 'grid games' thread here, it encouraged me to go on and adopt the hexes after all.

link

A few pics from the latest post.

Close up of a typical infantry base, a '4 block' CCN unit.

That sir is a good idea well done!

Well done. I've thought of doing the same thing for my foam based terrain using straight pins with yellow ball heads.

Doug

Thank you AB. I can't take the credit for the idea though as it was suggested to me, but it was a Eureka moment, that for sure!

Lee.

…I went with a subtle use of hex points only, dotted in yellow…

You must have the patience of a saint.

I've thought of doing the same, but using a dot to mark the center of each hex instead of the corners. But your use of yellow actually works really well. I was thinking of using a gray or contrasting green but yellow is definitely a great idea…

Very neat. Irregular bare-dirt patches matching the stands would be an alternative that would further camouflage the hex pattern and make your terrain match the stands.

Nice set up! I take it the small round bases are to denote block losses?

Nice. I like it so much I may switch to yellow dots myself. I use a dot-grid with black dots. The yellow are better.

I created a lot of little terrain vignettes and put them down one per 'dot'. Most are just a small base flocked with tufts of grass. Other bases hold stooks of corn, or haystacks, plowed fields, etc. The bases are not all the same size but all fit neatly into their 'hex', centered on the 'dot'.

Thanks for sharing.

I am not sure if I like this or not ..

I think I would have to play on such a gaming board to judge as I can't imagine whether the hex dots are too subtle to be unnoticebale yet so bright & obvious to be annoying.

I applaud the idea & implementation though.

Oh and personallY I would have gone with a more neutral & faded hex dot colour like grey as suggested somewhere above, as I expect both black or white would have probably been too much.

I seem to have used the same image twice there, apologies!

Again some constructive comments, thank you.

'moocifer' – I have looked at many CCN hex grids, many are simple painted hexes, in fact probably most are. The odd thing with this board with yellow dots is that when you stand back a little (the pics are taken sanding on a chair looking down) they do see to fade. This is after all a hex boardgame and one has to be able to see the grid. I was actually experimenting with not using a grid at all (see earlier blog post), and instead using a standard 'Distant unit (DU) equal to a hex measurement in this case 90mm, but it threw up too many anomalies. In actuality those hex dots are quite hard to make out, any more 'subtle' and I think one would lose the hexes altogether! I'll add a more 'side on'/low level shot here for example. The hex dots are about 2mm diameter.

'Twinginham'- yes, those are markers, made to fit on the rear of the bases to denote current 'block' strength.

Ultimately I fell in love with a set of Napoleonic boardgame rules, and had to adapt my table for them! Maybe it will evolve beyond this but I feel it's a pretty good compromise.
I wasn't keen on going with hexes but consensus among the wide following who use them with miniatures is that hexes speed up the game and help it to flow.

A few more pics of this project.

Lee.

I assumed the small round bases were commanders. I also assume that the numbers in the rear corners are the original strength of the units? How do you denote strength losses? I think your dots are amazing! If anything they are too inconspicuous. Great idea, well executed!

Mollinary

Great job!

Thank you coopman :-)

Hi mollinary,

Correct, I needed a way to denote the original strength of each unit in 'blocks' as per the rules, usually between 3 to 5 'blocks' (plastic blocks in the boardgame). As this is reduced by hits I place one of the counters (see pic)over that space to denote current strength. I added a bit of static grass/grit etc to blend them in with the bases.

My aim is to present a boardgame played with miniatures, but also to present it to a pleasing aesthetic standard. It will never compare with 28mm of course, but for me this about the game aspect first and I've enjoyed the challenge.

More stuff to do yet….. I'm working on hills and other terrain.

Regards,

Lee.

Combat strength markers (blocks).

Victory Banners – my version!

Very well played, Sir.
Took me a bit (even after reading 'yellow dots') to even notice 'em.

Great execution. The board looks great, as do the figures.

Can't recall. Was I the one who suggested this?
I did up a dot as the middle of the hex tabletop a few years ago for C&C: Napoleonics (my homebrew rules). Eventually put that aside in favor of a hex mat from Hotz Mats. I used black dots, but I like your yellow ones better.

Enjoy your C&C: Napoleon gaming! It's such great fun.

Here's my blogs:

link

link

GDrover- Are you the one who ran a C&C Waterloo game at Fall-In a couple of years ago? If so it was a great game in 25mm. It took a little time to get used to the hexless hexes,but after a few terms it was easy. What a blast!

That looks fantastic. I have only played the ancients version of C&C but that is a great looking setup.

GDrover,

Your blogs are inspirational! Thanks for posting the links I'll add them to my blog. I really like what you have achieved there, the overall impression is fantastic.

Thanks for all the comments chaps.
Lee.

Great work Lee. Your project has really come together well.
Enjoy your gaming!

Smart work. I like it.

Now that I've taken a second look I am really starting to like what you've done.

My aim is to present a boardgame played with miniatures, but also to present it to a pleasing aesthetic standard.

You have definitely succeeded with this.

Thank you all. Moocifer, I have just started my first test game on the blog (link at top) and I'm doing a blow by blow account to help me learn the rules!

Regards,
Lee.