Hex Mapping Symbols
- Solomoriah
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Hex Mapping Symbols
Here are some hex mapping symbols I've made, and a sheet of hex paper scaled to work with them. In Gimp, use the magic wand tool to select the white space inside a hex, then paste a symbol in and it will be properly aligned. For best results, use a recent Gimp and add a transparent layer on top where you'll paste the symbols so removing them will be easier if you change your mind.
This symbol set is not nearly complete. Please post suggestions/requests for additional symbols and I'll create them as I have time.
This symbol set is not nearly complete. Please post suggestions/requests for additional symbols and I'll create them as I have time.
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- capitol.png (12.75 KiB) Viewed 3786 times
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- pineforest-mountains.png (13.05 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- pineforest-hills.png (13.72 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- pineforest.png (14.47 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- mountains.png (9.21 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- hills.png (17.4 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- forest-mountains.png (5.07 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- forest-hills.png (12.8 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- forest.png (17.48 KiB) Viewed 3787 times
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- hexpage.xcf
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My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
More tree/forest types. Personally, I think there should be symbols for Tropical (palm or coconut type trees) and a Bamboo sort of tree symbol (this one is especially not well represented).
Bogs, swamps, swampy forests (cypress).
Some symbols to represent barrens, desert, badlands, etc. Within this set, Oasis and Oasis with settlement/town.
I also like to see town/civilization tiles from like farmland, village, town, city (and perhaps a major city/metropolis). A dot or star on a map just does not do it for me, lol.
Of course, the nature of such tiles depends on the scale being utilized.
Bogs, swamps, swampy forests (cypress).
Some symbols to represent barrens, desert, badlands, etc. Within this set, Oasis and Oasis with settlement/town.
I also like to see town/civilization tiles from like farmland, village, town, city (and perhaps a major city/metropolis). A dot or star on a map just does not do it for me, lol.
Of course, the nature of such tiles depends on the scale being utilized.
Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?
- Solomoriah
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Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
I can draw a palm tree, but I have no idea how to compactly represent bamboo.
What would be the visual difference between "bog" and "swamp?"
Desert is in the plans. Badlands I'm less clear on how to draw, and the same for barrens. Not clear what an oasis would look like either.
If someone else wants to take them on, I'm good with it. Dots and stars have always been fine with me.
The hexes have 112 x 98 interiors (with the corners cut off, obviously). The symbols I'm using are limited to around 85 pixels wide by about 80 pixels high, adjusted as I see fit after I lay them over a hex-fill tile. I don't plan for the symbols to touch the sides of the hexes, but roads and streams will have to. Those, incidentally, are coming next.
Real old maps often showed roads and streams and the like in otherwise-blank tiles. I'm going to lay mine out like that, but you can overlay a road or stream over a terrain tile by graying the terrain tile layer out a bit, which may be how I use them.
Yes, I'm writing an adventure that needs a hex map. Finally...
My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
This site seems to have some great examples to emulate:
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/s ... amp-D-Maps
Bog is generally land... mushy and broken up with little bodies of water. Difficult to navigate, but do-able.
While true swamp is similar but more waterways than land, and as far as navigating one would generally need boat/raft or something similar to move through.
All just tidbits to inspire what you are doing. I will see if I can find bamboo forest sort of example in similar size. Maybe something like this link shows:
https://images.app.goo.gl/W9wkShZWupFBWBH96
https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forums/s ... amp-D-Maps
Bog is generally land... mushy and broken up with little bodies of water. Difficult to navigate, but do-able.
While true swamp is similar but more waterways than land, and as far as navigating one would generally need boat/raft or something similar to move through.
All just tidbits to inspire what you are doing. I will see if I can find bamboo forest sort of example in similar size. Maybe something like this link shows:
https://images.app.goo.gl/W9wkShZWupFBWBH96
Is it really the end, not some crazy dream?
Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
Ooh, I agree that bamboo is a challenge. Especially trying to get something that doesn't totally break with the other symbols. I tried out a few things but most attempts wasn't as not even close to work. Possibly something like this may work
Basically a bamboo stick with some leaves somewhere to indicate that it's "alive".
Basically a bamboo stick with some leaves somewhere to indicate that it's "alive".
- Solomoriah
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Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
Nice, but possibly too detailed to shrink to the target size.
My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
That is certainly possible. I actually did try to make a figure with only two "bamboo segments" but then it sort of stops being bamboo like (at least to my eyes).Solomoriah wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:24 pm Nice, but possibly too detailed to shrink to the target size.
To be honest I'm not convinced it's really necessary to cover an extensive variety of trees anyway, a few general types would cover most needs "round (leafy) tree" and "pointed (needle) tree" covers quite a lot (though some sort of tropical trees would be nice). It was just sort of an interesting challenge.
Since bamboo is a reed it might be cover by some sort of grass/reed type symbol as well.
- Solomoriah
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Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
Y'know what, it actually works pretty well. The image you posted is a hair too tall, but it scaled nicely, and with a little hack and slash (I mean cut and paste) I get this:
My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
- Solomoriah
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Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
Let's add some more:
- Attachments
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- bamboo-mountains.png (4.98 KiB) Viewed 3705 times
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- bamboo-hills.png (4.92 KiB) Viewed 3705 times
My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
- Solomoriah
- Site Admin
- Posts: 12539
- Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:15 pm
- Location: LaBelle, Missouri
- Contact:
Re: Hex Mapping Symbols
You're on a roll here, borgar... want to do a nice palm tree or two for me?
My personal site: www.gonnerman.org
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