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A hexcrawl is a type of game structure frequently used in pen-and-paper role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons or Pathfinder. It refers to a special type of exploration where players traverse a campaign world in a systematic pattern, usually in the form of hex fields on a map. The hexcrawl is particularly commonly used in a West Marches campaign.
The idea is that players move their characters through a wilderness landscape consisting of a large number of hexagonal fields. Each of these fields can contain specific environments, monsters, treasures, or resources that can be discovered and explored by the players.
Often this type of game structure is used to simulate a larger world where players can move freely and experience adventures. It can also be used to give players more control and freedom, as they can decide for themselves which areas they want to explore and which they should avoid. A hexcrawl therefore differs from traditional adventures, which usually have a fixed sequence. This is also called railroading.
A hexcrawl can be a very entertaining and rewarding experience for players, as they can immerse themselves deeply in an imaginative world and discover countless secrets and challenges.
Advantages of a Hexcrawl
- Freedom and Control: A hexcrawl gives players the freedom to explore the world and shape their own journey. They can decide where to go and which challenges they want to take on. A hexcrawl thus creates the closest experience to an “open world” or “sandbox,” as in video games.
- Deep World: A hexcrawl can help create a deep, immersive world, as each tile on the map can be unique. Players can discover countless secrets, treasures, and challenges that make the world come alive, because: The tiles continue to develop even when the players are not currently in them.
- Varied Challenge Levels: A Dungeon Master running a hexcrawl doesn’t necessarily have to adapt their enemies and challenges to the players’ level. In some hex fields, strong enemies lurk that players must initially avoid and can only defeat later. Player decisions thus become more important and the hexcrawl campaign feels more immersive and challenging.
- Appealing Rewards: Through exploration and investigating the tiles on the map, players can receive rewards, such as valuable items or experience points for their characters. However, players must always weigh risk against reward, which makes the obtained rewards even more appealing.
- Exploration as Focus: A hexcrawl can be a great focus on exploration, which can be very satisfying for players who enjoy exploring and discovering. This aspect is often lacking in many other campaign types and is therefore a welcome change in a hexcrawl.
- Easily Adaptable: A hexcrawl can be adapted according to the needs and preferences of the players. The Dungeon Master can design the world so that it provides the most fun and challenges for the players.
Disadvantages of a Hexcrawl
There are also some potential disadvantages that a hexcrawl in a pen-and-paper role-playing game can have:
- Overwhelm: A large number of tiles on the map can overwhelm players, especially if they have difficulty keeping their bearings or remembering which areas they have already explored. Too much freedom of choice can also delay campaign progress. Some parties then discuss a lot or don’t want to make mistakes. This can bring the story’s progress to a halt.
- Boring Landscapes: Since not every tile can be unique, there is a danger that some areas on the map contain boring or repetitive landscapes that give players no incentive to explore them.
- Planning Effort: The Dungeon Master may have to invest a lot of time and effort to create a believable and interesting world that players will enjoy and that challenges them. If players don’t communicate in advance which hex fields they will explore, the Dungeon Master must also prepare many different paths. Here, communication between the party and the player is important!
- Frustration Through Chance: Since discoveries on the map can also be randomly generated, this can frustrate players if they encounter many insurmountable challenges or dangerous monsters they cannot overcome. It can also happen that the tiles don’t thematically fit together at all and thus destroy the immersive experience.
Who is a Hexcrawl Suitable For?
A hexcrawl is particularly suitable for the following groups of players:
- Exploration and Explorer Types: Players who enjoy exploring new places and discovering secrets will be thrilled by a hexcrawl, as it gives them the opportunity to explore a large and immersive role-playing world.
- Sandbox Fans: Players who like to write their own story and have the freedom to shape their environment will appreciate a hexcrawl, as it gives them the opportunity to shape their own journey and have full control over the campaign’s events.
- Tactical Players: A hexcrawl can also be suitable for tactical players who like to think strategically and optimize their resource management.
- Dungeon Masters Who Like to Share Responsibility: Dungeon Masters who don’t want to plan a stringent story from A to B will also benefit from a hexcrawl, as it offers them many opportunities to let players make decisions. Dungeon Masters also give up the responsibility of planning concrete plot moments, which usually arise from the choice of hex tiles.
- Worldbuilders: A hexcrawl is perfectly suited for Dungeon Masters who enjoy building their own world and have many ideas. These ideas can all be built into individual tiles and thus gradually discovered and played by the players.
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