Hex map
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A hex map, hex board or hex grid is a gameboard design commonly used in wargames of all scales. The map is subdivided into small regular hexagons of identical size.
The advantage of a hex map over a square grid map is that the distance between the center of each hex cell and the center of all six adjacent hex cells remains constant. Compare this to a square grid map where the distance from the center of each square cell (of side length x) to the center of its four diagonal adjacent cells is longer than the distance to the center of its four cardinal adjacent cells (x SQRT2 instead of x).
The disadvantage of a hex map is that any given hex has an adjacent cell in only six directions (usually N, NE, SE, S, SW, NW) instead of eight, as in a square grid map. In addition, no hex cell has an adjacent hex cell lying directly east or directly west, making movement in a straight line east or west more difficult to consider than on a square grid map.
The hex map has been a favourite for many game designers since 1961, when Charles S. Roberts of the Avalon Hill game company published the second edition of Gettysburg with a hex map. The hex grid is a distinguishing feature of the games from many wargame publishers, and a few other games (such as the popular German game Settlers of Catan).
A few abstract games are played on a hex grid, such as Hex and the television game show based on it, Blockbusters. Several variants of chess have also been invented for a hex board.
