Hexing a code

Deciding on a grid system

There’s grids, then there’s serious grids. As the board of this game moves, I can’t be super pescriptive with this as the top corner of the map could in theory change. I like the off-axis grid. Others might hate that. See below for all the examples.

Firstly - a proper grid

Finally got around to making a proper grid utilising 3 Transform Properties, I’d been manually moving the pieces around with snapping and patience. That eventually snapped when I wanted to create this. Here’s the 3 steps, the movement numbers are based off the original size of the hexagon:

Making a hex grid in illustrator
Making a hex grid in illustrator
Utilising the transform and copies
Utilising the transform and copies
Utilising the transform and copies (one further step)
Utilising the transform and copies (one further step)

Just a grid

Secondly - labelling

Point A1

A1A3B2D2F2C1C3E1E31234512345ABCDEFGHIJK
A1A3B2D2F2C1C3E1E31234512345ABCDEFGHIJK
Point A1

This initial design makes a lot of sense until you realise you’re missing every second hex and the letters count up A, C,E etc. It’s not all bad, I just think it could be better.

Point Aa1

AaBbCcDdEFe1234512345A1A3a2b2c2B1B3C1C3
AaBbCcDdEFe1234512345A1A3a2b2c2B1B3C1C3
Point Aa1

I was quite happy with this one, a little unconventional though helps you note when you’re passing through a mid gap.

Wait on - we’re flat tops here

This is the moment I realised all my diagrams use flat top hexagons. So, to keep on theme I changed my labelling system. I also realised that I should be considering how you would ’talk’ about the each island. So whether that would be Top first or Left first, then around clockwise.

Flat 1A

12345678ABCDEFGHIJD2C3E3A1C1E1G1I1A3C3E3G3I3B2D2F2H2J2
12345678ABCDEFGHIJD2C3E3A1C1E1G1I1A3C3E3G3I3B2D2F2H2J2
Flat 1A

Probably the simplest but again ‘ACE’ counting. Meaning that the adjacent tiles don’t sound like they should be adjacent.

Flat 1Aa

b2B3C312345678AaBbCcDdEeA1B1C1D1E1A3B3C3D3E3a2b2c2d2e2
b2B3C312345678AaBbCcDdEeA1B1C1D1E1A3B3C3D3E3a2b2c2d2e2
Flat 1Aa

This makes sense at first to me until I start looking too closely, the adjacent tiles make sense, but when you try and say it outloud..then you run into serious strife.

Flat A1

ABCDEFGH12345678910B4C3C5A1A3A5A7A9C1C3C5C7C9B2B4B6B8B10
ABCDEFGH12345678910B4C3C5A1A3A5A7A9C1C3C5C7C9B2B4B6B8B10
Flat A1

This works well for my brain 1,3,5 and 2,4,6 counting makes sense for the rows. See Doubled Coordinates from Red Blob Games. The only issue I have is you get into double digit numbers quite quickly in a 3-5 player game.

Slanted/Off axis

Slanted axis

ABCDEFGH01-1-2-3234A0A1A2A3A4C-1D-1C0C1C2C3B0B1B2B3B4
ABCDEFGH01-1-2-3234A0A1A2A3A4C-1D-1C0C1C2C3B0B1B2B3B4
Slanted/Off axis - I like this, it feels clean, but drawing the lines may be trickier to explain and some people hate negative numbers.

I like this, it feels clean, but drawing the lines may be trickier to explain and some people dislike negative numbers. Also the spacing of the top row numbers isn’t pretty.

ABCDEFGHABCDEFGH01-1-2-3234A0A1A2A3A4C-1D-1C0C1C2C3B0B1B2B3B4-3-2-101
ABCDEFGHABCDEFGH01-1-2-3234A0A1A2A3A4C-1D-1C0C1C2C3B0B1B2B3B4-3-2-101
Flat slanted axis with arrows - Trying make it more visually obvious...probably made it more cluttered.

Conclusion?

ABCDEFGH12345678910A1A3A5A7A9C1C3C5C7C9E1E3E5E7E9G1G3G5G7G9B2B4B6B8B10D2D4D6D8D10F2F4F6F8F10H2H4H6H8H10
ABCDEFGH12345678910A1A3A5A7A9C1C3C5C7C9E1E3E5E7E9G1G3G5G7G9B2B4B6B8B10D2D4D6D8D10F2F4F6F8F10H2H4H6H8H10
Flat A1 - Keep it relatively simple.

Wire frames of the diagrams
Wire frames of the diagrams
Thanks for reading 🌋

Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Last updated on Aug 06, 2025 00:00 AEST

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I acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waterways on which this idea was brought to life, and pay my respect to the wisdom of their Elders past and present.

A boardgame designed by Alex Barnes-Keoghan
Built with Hugo, Theme Stack designed by Jimmy
Parallax stars effect by Sarazond, hexagonal background by Temani Afif
GAME TESTED BY// Ruby Benjy Amy Toby Hugh Liam Kumal Ben Sam Huon Jonathan The Melbourne Incubator Sonya Joseph Daarsya Jess Ryan and many more