Post by papersmithforge on Aug 24, 2012 15:38:02 GMT -9
Greetings everyone, this thread is essentially a continuation of this thread (minus the registration problem issues).
I realize this is mostly a figurine board, but I imagine paper terrain is also important to paper gamers. Therefore, a little background (hopefully without repeating myself). I am designing a modular hexagonal terrain grid system. Even though it started as an original concept in my mind, there's nothing that new about it. It draws inspiration and dimensions/proportions from the Heroscape terrain.
squirmydad pointed out that Fat Dragon Games already made a similar product. So I will elaborate on that by denoting the differences. I do not own any of the Hexmaster PDFs from Fat Dragon Games so please correct any errors I make in my assumptions/inferences.
From the photos of the sets it appears that the traditional tab and glue method is used to construct the various pieces. The system I'm designing uses no glue whatsoever. It uses a tongue and groove construction method so everything can be broken back down into sheet form. The Fat Dragon Games Hexmaster sets come in 7, 4, 2, and 1 pieces of varying heights (half heights don't appear to factor in, and some texturing options). My system uses 3 distinct single tiles only that equate 1:1 with the Heroscape tiles and allow you to build whatever larger structure you want from those.
The Fat Dragon system seems more like an add-on to the Heroscape tiles whereas my system is intended to act as a replacement. The photographs don't seem to show pieces stacked atop one another, except in the case of a 1 module stacked atop a 7 module (a pyramid-like construction). My system is designed to stack in layers (just as the Heroscape one is), and provides a method for connecting hexagons horizontally for further stability. In other words, every vertical layer is its own self-contained contour. This makes transportation of a terrain easier, and has the added bonus that abrupt blows to the gaming surface won't dislodge any of the tiles (nor will you have to avoid fans and their associated wind currents).
I cannot tell about the internals of the Fat Dragon modules, but I'm guessing like most paper structures they are hollow. The modules I've designed take advantage of paper folding to add rigidity to the terrain (in the future I intend to take a picture to show that the terrain pieces can resist crushing).
Obscured portions of tiles are possible (1/3 or 2/3 of a tile are visible). The cavities in the modules allow for the insertion of small magnets which would make connecting and disconnecting separate tiles together a snap (literally). Overhangs "should" also be possible. First however, I want to finalize the modular design before I readily make that claim.
I pictorially document my progress here. I think the Fat Dragon Games Hexmaster system looks great, the texturing work is incredible and something that my system will not have for two reasons: I'm not a skilled artist, and for file size and printing compatibility I only work in vector graphics.
So to conclude, I think my major point is that the two systems are quite different even though they both create hex-based terrain. Furthermore, if anyone here has suggestions for it, I'd be happy to to have an outside perspective. Thanks for reading.
I realize this is mostly a figurine board, but I imagine paper terrain is also important to paper gamers. Therefore, a little background (hopefully without repeating myself). I am designing a modular hexagonal terrain grid system. Even though it started as an original concept in my mind, there's nothing that new about it. It draws inspiration and dimensions/proportions from the Heroscape terrain.
squirmydad pointed out that Fat Dragon Games already made a similar product. So I will elaborate on that by denoting the differences. I do not own any of the Hexmaster PDFs from Fat Dragon Games so please correct any errors I make in my assumptions/inferences.
From the photos of the sets it appears that the traditional tab and glue method is used to construct the various pieces. The system I'm designing uses no glue whatsoever. It uses a tongue and groove construction method so everything can be broken back down into sheet form. The Fat Dragon Games Hexmaster sets come in 7, 4, 2, and 1 pieces of varying heights (half heights don't appear to factor in, and some texturing options). My system uses 3 distinct single tiles only that equate 1:1 with the Heroscape tiles and allow you to build whatever larger structure you want from those.
The Fat Dragon system seems more like an add-on to the Heroscape tiles whereas my system is intended to act as a replacement. The photographs don't seem to show pieces stacked atop one another, except in the case of a 1 module stacked atop a 7 module (a pyramid-like construction). My system is designed to stack in layers (just as the Heroscape one is), and provides a method for connecting hexagons horizontally for further stability. In other words, every vertical layer is its own self-contained contour. This makes transportation of a terrain easier, and has the added bonus that abrupt blows to the gaming surface won't dislodge any of the tiles (nor will you have to avoid fans and their associated wind currents).
I cannot tell about the internals of the Fat Dragon modules, but I'm guessing like most paper structures they are hollow. The modules I've designed take advantage of paper folding to add rigidity to the terrain (in the future I intend to take a picture to show that the terrain pieces can resist crushing).
Obscured portions of tiles are possible (1/3 or 2/3 of a tile are visible). The cavities in the modules allow for the insertion of small magnets which would make connecting and disconnecting separate tiles together a snap (literally). Overhangs "should" also be possible. First however, I want to finalize the modular design before I readily make that claim.
I pictorially document my progress here. I think the Fat Dragon Games Hexmaster system looks great, the texturing work is incredible and something that my system will not have for two reasons: I'm not a skilled artist, and for file size and printing compatibility I only work in vector graphics.
So to conclude, I think my major point is that the two systems are quite different even though they both create hex-based terrain. Furthermore, if anyone here has suggestions for it, I'd be happy to to have an outside perspective. Thanks for reading.