Miniature Scale Hexes?

[Chorpa]

I just encountered a problem with the B&W maps. Have them all except the Dungeon of Terror maps and are finally running a campaign.
We often use miniatures and one of the reasons I like the B&W maps. But we do prefer to use hexes over squares and as I understand the hexes are 1 yard wich I am fine with.
But the issue I just discovered is when you to print out the maps (uses A4) the hexes are way to small for proper miniature use.
The reason I bring it up here is just to make you aware of the problem and the easiest solution are either to use 1'' hexes or the possibility to enlarge the maps when printing so you get the proper size for miniatures (although it would require more pages).

Tried to find a simple way to solve this problem but I couldn't so I thought posting it here for suggestions to solve it and make you aware of the problem for the future solutions was a good idea.
Other than this I still think the maps are excellent and a cheap way to get some finished locations you can weave into your own adventures and campaigns.

[Master01]

I think the problem is related to A4 paper size. The A4 is less wide than US letter, and you probably used the "fit to page" option. You should try to print it on US letter paper without the fit to page option.

let me know if it works

[Chorpa]

Well here in Sweden US letter is not common and hard to come by.
But I tried to experiment a bit and removed the "fit to page" options and the marigins that resulted in that you could just barely could fit everything on to a A4 page, the result was a real improvement. I still think the hexes are a bit on the small side but now they are more managable atleast. But a side effect from this was that you don't have any unused surface to glue the maps together if you wanna do that. But it's only a minor problem requiring a little more work.

But I know I am not the only one so if there is a possibility to include 1" hexes on the future maps I just ask you to atleast consider it.

Other than that I would like to thank you for your otherwise wonderful maps. For some reason my imagination have been sparked in ways it hasn't done in a long time just because of your maps.

Erik Sharma

[Master01]

the result was a real improvement.

Good, glad to hear it.

But I know I am not the only one so if there is a possibility to include 1" hexes on the future maps I just ask you to atleast consider it.

Will consider it but the tiles would not be compatible with those already published...

Other than that I would like to thank you for your otherwise wonderful maps. For some reason my imagination have been sparked in ways it hasn't done in a long time just because of your maps.

Erik Sharma

Thanks, it is one if the best compliments I ever received. When I draw a map I let my imagination run free so, I hope that something remains in the map.

[Chorpa]

Couldn't help myself!
Took some pictures of the printed and prepared map of Medusa Hideout I am using our next Rolemaster session.
These pages are printed full size with the "fit to page" option unchecked on A4 and they managed to fit.
Placed two D&D miniatures on the map to illustrate the problem mentioned about the small hexes. Altough they are way much better when printed in full size they are still a bit small but not unusable. The close ups are blurry but you can still see the size of the miniatures and the hexes without problem. The cellphone camera didn't wanna focus on the short distance.

[Master01]

Very nice printout must say. The hex problem is serious, they are way too small. The sole solution I can see for now is adding another hex grid to next products, thus you can choose between small and large one.

[Chorpa]

The sole solution I can see for now is adding another hex grid to next products, thus you can choose between small and large one.

It does sound like the best option, I assume there are others using the maps with other kind of markers than miniatures and for them the small hex problem might not be as big of an issue. This way you atleast have the option and you can still use hexes instead of squares and choose what size you want.

[Chorpa]

I had some time over to fiddle with some solutions on how to print the maps so you got the hexes at one inch scales. I delved into my GURPS collection and saw that even they use 1 inch size on their scales but each inch is one yard instead of the normal 5' scale.
I hope you don't mind me posting it here as an instruction for others if they have the same problem.

IMPORTANT! This method will require 4 times more paper than printing the Black & White map the normal way and some additional work. If you are stingy about the amount paper used this method is not for you.

1. Open you B&W produkt.
2. Make the settings you want with the Rule of the Dungeon button. These suggestions are for the ones that want 1" hexes on their maps, so turning on the hex grid is a must.
3. Go to the page of the tile/tiles you want to print.
4. When you are on the page you want to print you cut out and copy the whole page from the option in the Edit pulldown meny. My version of Acrobat Reader is in the swedish language so not sure of the exact name of the function.
5. Open Windows Paint and make the marigins smaller before you post the image. That way it automatically adapts to the pasted size if the size is smaller than the pasted size.
6. Paste the whole page in Paint.
7. Open print setup in Paint.
8. In the print setup you have adjust the scale to 166% of normal size.
   

   I later on learned that you can orient the page horizontally and instead of choosing 166% scale you choose adapt to 1x2 pages. That way each tile only takes 2 pages and the hexes are still about 0,8" or 22,5mm in size and should still work quite well with miniatures and save some paper.

9. Set all the marigins to 0. I do leave the marigins at 0 but if you want a overlap you can use to glue the pages together you can add som marigins for bigger overlap but it's optional.
10. Center the page both vertically and horizontally.
11. Print the page.
12. Repeat the process for all the other tiles you want printed in miniature scale with hexes.

The maps will not be as sharp as normal because of the enlarged size. But the scale should be roughly 1 hex=1inch. I will post a picture later to show how a piece of the map will look with miniatures.
Hope this post will help someone!
Until then game on!

[Chorpa]

As promised here are the pictures of the resized maps with hexes for miniature use. This is one tile printed on four A4 pages and then cut down and taped together. I did choose to not have any margins and instead place the parts border to border and taping them together. That way they do fold together easier for transport. Placed a room map from the D&D Miniatures game for scale reference.

I later on learned that you can orient the page horizontally and instead of choosing 166% scale you choose adapt to 1x2 pages. That way each tile only takes 2 pages and the hexes are still about 0,8" or 22,5mm in size and should still work quite well with minitatures and save some paper.

[Master01]

Hey Chorpa,

Great work! I love to see posts like this (and love to see photos of 0one's maps while gaming).

I can confirm you that in the next Black & White release (Village of Heavenring) we will have 1 inch hexes as an optional grid.