Hexcrawling can be loads of fun, but the initial setting up of a hexcrawl, well... not so much. I mean, it IS fun, but is time-consuming and can become a chore. Still, once complete, discovering the connections between hexes makes for pleasant surprises, both for players and GMs.
All told, I have little new to add, so instead offer a compilation of what is out there regarding hexcrawling. Others have provided similar compilations in the past, such as this one at Ars Phantasia, but it is dated (still good though - you'll recognize several of the links in that post, and they are all worth clicking). If nothing else, this lets be more efficient in my Facebook responses - I merely link this post rather than a half-dozen or more sites. Other search terms useful for those seeking additional resources on hexcrawls are: sandbox, West Marches, and pointcrawl.
There are a few solid introductions to Hexcrawls, both at the Alexandrian (also a separate 5e version) and a large series (at least 20 installments) on Hexcrawls at Trollsmyth. Melan at Beyond Fomalhaut also addresses hexcrawling, providing a simple method for doing so. There is also this discussion on three types of hexcrawl at Augury Ignored.
Once you have the rough idea of hexcrawls and the process of building one, you need the resources to build your own. First among them is the blog d4 Caltrops and this lovely document. Note that the blog contains several more Forest and Mountain hexes not yet in the document, so do a thorough search. These are wonderful because each entry can result in several different options. There is even some minor linking between the entries.
One tool for world-building and hexcrawling is the Random Encounter chart. This article from Papers and Pencils on Structuring Encounter Tables is worth the read and application. Even if you aren't jamming Wizards and Dragons on your tables, you should have a procedures for random encounters. Retired Adventurer provides a different take here. Whose Measure God Could Not Take addresses biome-related encounter tables in an excellent fashion.
(But you should be jamming Wizards and Dragons on at least some of those encounter tables).
Papers and Pencils also provides a nice how-to with How Do You Hexcrawl. Whose Measure writes about their process, as well.
Encounters in a hexcrawl are an odd creature. Welshpiper addresses them here - note the additional hexcrawling articles on the side. Welshpiper also has a solid downloadable hexcrawl template for drawing up a detailed hex. Another template can be found here.
Related to encounters is the loot left behind. Adding history to said loot lets you build your world and the connections between hexes, as Ars Ludi addresses here.
Hexcrawling suggests the PCs will spend many nights around a campfire. Those tables wanting something more for those evenings should consider what is being burnt. The post from The Goatman's Goblet explores indepth the matter of firewood. It is worth reading. Truth be told, all the entries there under the heading Hexploration are worth reading.
There is much overlap between hexcrawling and the West Marches campaign. KentheDM hosts a repository of useful West Marches information that leads indirectly to Izirion's Enchiridion of the West Marches, which can be mined for hexcrawls.
My Terrible Sorcery is Without Equal in the West is a mouthful, but worth the click. The post is ostensibly about keying a specific hexcrawl, but the links therein are a goldmine.
If you're in a hurry for a hexcrawl or simply seeking examples of some, look no further than Save vs. Total Party Kill's Grab Bag, where you'll find almost a dozen such hexcrawls calling out for adventure. If an urban hexcrawl is what you're seeking, then Wizard City from Goodberry Monthly is regularly updated with additional content; it might be fun to mix and match with the Strixhaven book WotC is releasing.
Another source for a readymade hexcrawl is found at Coins and Scrolls, with the Community Hexcrawl. Coins and Scrolls has also been running a short series on how to build the hexes of a wavecrawl or islandcrawl by going through established sources. Its a fun how-to read.
Against the Wicked City has been steadily turning the Pathfinder Adventure Paths into hexcrawls, jamming the current ones together here. If you like the idea of Adventure Paths, but hate the bloat that is Pathfinder, here is the current master list of current AP-turned-hexcrawls, referred to as Condensation-in-Action. While at this blog, look at The White Tower and drop it into your next hexcrawl - you won't be sorry. Also read through this post, and see how others' items can be ported into your homebrew world.
The Land of NOD produces an irregular hexcrawl zine, among other game-related materials. There are two free issues available for download, and the others can be found on Lulu and Drivethrurpg. At least try out the freebies.
Third Kingdom Games keeps producing quality hexcrawl materials. Technically, it is for the OSE ruleset, but the meat is what is important. Being able to buy them as print-on-demand allows for me to swell my bookshelf admirably. Their titles Filling in the Blanks and Into the Wild are ideal for crafting your own hexcrawl
The Alexandrian never fails to provide well-written advice on various gaming topics. Here we have some cheatsheets useful to hexcrawling. If you note the links therein, you get lots of meat from this link alone.
Over at Alone in the Labyrinth, you can find some randomly generated hexes: Swamp, Volcano, Tundra, Wetland, Taiga. More are promised. There is also a fine article on genius loci, or spirits of place, worth reading and incorporating, at least into some hexes. Some more recent ones include: Sparse Taiga, Hills, Mountains, Upland Taiga, and Tropical Plains.
Now that you have all sorts of ideas to populate your hexes, and have maybe drawn up some hexes, you want to automate. Hexmapper is a free bit of software that does this. I've recently had Worldographer pointed out to me by Giuseppe of Axian Spice.
He is also the creator of Lands of Legends, five useful hexcrawling resources flavored by type of game they work best with: Mundane, Grim, Holy, Primeval, and Fairy (link runs to DTRPG pdfs).
A new addition is the Patreon Instant Encounters. Terrain-themed short encounters to expand your hexes with or seed a new adventures. Another solid Patreon choice is Dyson Logos maps (although his free maps and adventures are enough for many).
Sometimes, interesting and more importantly, different, encounters are wanted. This list of 10 related encounters from I Don't Remember That Move certainly fit the bill. In turn, they call to mind this list of 6 Dungeon Merchants (most are easily portable to the great outdoors) from Goblin Punch.
New Big Dragon Games provides several wonderful supplements, but the one best for this post is the d30 Sandbox Companion (in the middle of the linked company page).
Beyond the Wall by Flatland Games is technically its own system, but in the end, it is a fantasy game that lends itself well to hexcrawl set up. Retired Adventurer reviews the main books here.
Zzarchov Kowolski published Lost in the Wilderness, a 'collection of seed table encounter generators' invaluable in crafting your own hexes. Review here.
Three more resources I've been introduced to are 92 Tables, intended for the Black Hack 2e but system neutral, and FlexTale Environmental Encounters and Into the Wyrd and Wild, which are both system agnostic.
Initially mentioned in the comments below, Salty Goo is an awesome hexcrawl generating aid. It makes me want to bust out some hexpaper and start mapping immediately! Speaking of hexpaper, I finally found some numbered hexes here at Quickly, Quietly, Carefully (which is now Devilghost).
I found another excellent resource over at Rand Roll, this time aimed at 5e, but easily portable to other rulesets. This link goes to the Deserts, but it in turn quickly links to other terrains. Speaking of specific terrain types, Elfmaids & Octopi has a collection of mountain-related lists and ideas.
Jed McClure has a free PDF for those wanting to work on their hexcrawls offline. If you prefer a more random, online approach, there is Hexer from Blog of Holding.
YouTube videos on hexcrawling got a post of their own; it too is incomplete.
If you prefer to listen over watch, then HexTalk is for you. This podcast is all about hexcrawling.
Reddit has its own thread dedicated to hexcrawl resources. There is substantial overlap between there and here, but if Reddit is your thing, you should know.
There you have it: a large, slowly growing, but still incomplete, collection of resources intended for hexcrawling, but easily used for any adventure that takes place in the wilderness.
A note on the art selections: Magic the Gathering basic lands make me realize how much I enjoy a well-painted landscape. The selections above come from various Euro and APAC land cards - I own some, but kick myself for not snapping up many APACs at $5 apiece when I was stationed in Korea and had that young single junior officer money burning a hole in my pocket. It went to beer instead....
Still, if you enjoy showing players the landscape over telling them, Magic land cards can be a huge boon, either to pass around the table or to share the image in your Discord channel.
Most Recent Edit: 2/10/22
4 comments:
Thank you, great roundup of useful resources!!
You're welcome! I am always game to add more if you have suggestions.
https://saltygoo.github.io/pages/fantasylandgenerator/
This looks pretty cool!
See also the commentary here: https://whosemeasure.blogspot.com/2021/10/testing-out-saltygoos-fantasy-land.html
Tamas - that IS pretty nifty. I'll be adding it to the master document.
Thank you!
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