Hex Kit Volume One: Fantasyland is now live in the marketplace!

You can check it out and grab it  here !  Hex Kit Volume One: Fantasyland is a collection of over 1,000 unique, hand drawn hand painted hex tiles to make vibrant hex maps with the Roll20 map editor!  There is something for everyone in this pack, and you can use it a multitude of ways: create a new page in your campaign and build a world map, generate overland and wilderness maps on the fly, or just have a classic hex crawl. I spent a long time working on this and I am super excited for it to finally be alive on Roll20.  I'd also like to thank stellarwolf for being a bud and helping me in the process!  You can watch a video tutorial on making your first Hex Kit map right  here .

And here is an example map I cobbled together the other day: 

Fun style.  In addition to full maps many of these would make great markers for important locations on preexisting maps as well.

My favorite innovation on this set is the transparent tiles with coastlines and building/location markers. They're made to add on-top-of a background hex (any other hex from the set). This gives the mapper extra control for coastlines, and multiplies the amount of locations since you can put Tower on a swamp, or Tower on a mountain, or Tower on the plains. One question I have based on the artist's youtube tutorial, what were you saying about the numbering --- The artist cecil answered my question in YouTube comments and it's resolved. Thanks.

I love this kit, it makes hexcrawling rather easy (I have a module that this would work perfect with) and if you just set the dimensions after the drag and drop to 103x103, it fits the default hex perfectly.

I bought this set because I love the style and all the possibilities it will allow for hexcrawling and exploration in my campaign.    However, I must say that I am a little miffed about the sizing. If you're going to sell your product on roll20's marketplace, customers shouldn't have to manually set the size of the hexes to make it fit properly.  Any chance that this will be fixed with an update?

GM Scott said: I bought this set because I love the style and all the possibilities it will allow for hexcrawling and exploration in my campaign.    However, I must say that I am a little miffed about the sizing. If you're going to sell your product on roll20's marketplace, customers shouldn't have to manually set the size of the hexes to make it fit properly.  Any chance that this will be fixed with an update? GM Scott, I've been working on a possible, fix yes! When I originally contacted someone about specifically sizing hexes, and the transparent buffer, I was told to look at a similar asset in the marketplace and get a hold of the creator. After talking to that second person, I set the dimensions based off of their recommendation and assets. The current size allows for sizing your hexes to different grid sizes and retain image quality. I also tend to forget that I work with images for a living and a hobby, so I don't exactly have the same patience or threshold for that kind of stuff most people do, so I apologize. Since then a few people have come out the wood work and given me advice on how to size the hexes to work a little better with the map layer, advice not anywhere in the asset creation wiki. They will still require a little bit of fiddling, because of the hand drawn lines, and the quality of the image may drop a smidge when you zoom in. So its a question of image fidelity and usability versus out-of-the-box-ease of-use. If you PM me your email address, some time this after noon I can send you some hexes with a fix applied and I'd love to hear your feedback on them. Thanks Scott

Good discussion, cecil . The extra resolution does allow for sharper quality when viewing the maps zoomed-in (say 150% or up to 200%). &nbsp;It also displays at full res if the GM selects a hex and press SHIFT-Z the command to pop-up a graphic at full screen size. I don't draw a conclusion either way about whether the hexes should be at this size, or reduced to fit the grid without resizing. Great to see the artist considering it either way. Scott , since you are a Roll20 Pro subscriber, you have access to the API. &nbsp;If you install the community-created API script TokenMod (made by The Aaron), you can create a one-button-macro that resizes these hexes to the ideal (103x103 pixels). &nbsp;The API button is capable of resizing each hex with 1 button-click as you place it, or, you could drop a bunch of hexes on the map, select them all, and do a bulk resizing with this method. TokenMod API, <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Script:Token_Mod" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Script:Token_Mod</a>

That's really cool Gold! &nbsp;I did a few hard resizes, where I adjusted the dimensions of the image from the current size to the recommended size for square map tiles in the asset wiki, and then literally reduced the size of the hex inside of those dimensions 1 pixel at a time, testing each one in roll20 until one snapped in with a good ratio of overlap. &nbsp;I didn't change the DPI settings, rotation, or anything else.&nbsp; Here is a side by side of a hex with a hard-applied (A) and one that is scaled in Roll20 (B) (zoomed in as far as I could zoom) I personally see a pretty big difference in the comparison, but mileage may vary. So like I said, if it is a big enough problem that I should issue an across the board fix, then I don't mind. &nbsp;It might take a day or two to catch up, but it is certainly doable.

I did a few more tests, and I really think that reducing the file size or altering the current state is going to lead to an overall reduction of quality. &nbsp;This time I used an icon tile, they are a lot more busy in composition and would be a better gauge of just how much leeway we would have to mess around. A is the hard fix, B is in roll20, taken from the marketplace file. So with the marketplace version (B) I am able to give it a better overlap AND it still looks good zoomed in 5623523%. &nbsp;With the hard fix (A) I would need to resize it a little bit, which would look even worse and I would have to zoom way into make the resize look good. &nbsp;I really think that the files as-is will land you with a sweeter map. &nbsp;Remember these icon tiles sit overtop the terrain tiles, so with that reduction you're gunna end up with some mud.

That is interesting that the brower-based scaling appears sharper than art-program-rescale-and-reupload. &nbsp;I suspect you could improve on the "A" side by changing methods of the hard-rescale in your graphics program? But anyway, I agree with your conclusion, so I would say stick with "B" for all the reasons cited. I guess the reason for this disparity involves something to do with, the brower-side version "B" still has all those pixels of resolution inside the loaded-image, even though it is scaled down for presentation. Roll20+browser can still call-on that density of underlying pixels to make the sharpest appearance. &nbsp;Where-as the version "A" actually literally has pixels removed, in a permanent fashion, just to make it fit the exact size of a 100% view. So "A" has fewer pixels for the browser to make it look sharp and sweet.

I did the downsampling at 200DPI with tests in each of the sampling methods and got the same results.

BTW thanks to Pat for testing and discovering the 103x103 optimal size. Even without the TokenMod API, it's not too hard to right click &gt; Advanced &gt; Set Dimensions &gt; 103 x 103 pixels. &nbsp;Without the API you have to do this one-at-a-time. With the API you can make a macro button of it, and you can multi-select a bunch of the hexes and Set Dimensions super-fast. cecil, I recommend amending or annotating your YouTube tutorial videos to say these methods, in-addition to the "Hold alt and resize" method that is initially recommended in the youtube. 3 more things similar to that idea, If you can edit your Marketplace introduction text, it would be good to add some of this advisement in the text ("Use alt and drag-to-resize, or Set Dimensions to 103x103"). Not sure if you can link to your YouTube tutorial in Marketplace text or not, ask <a href="mailto:team@roll20.net" rel="nofollow">team@roll20.net</a> if you want to provide that link for users/buyers. Some marketplace artists include 1 graphic called "Instructions" or "How To" or "Example" or "Guidelines". I can give some example links if you're not sure what I mean by this.

Yeah they wouldn't let me include the youtube link in the description. &nbsp;I will need to make an instructions image I think; much better than resizing 1,1148 tiles!

One tip I've got for making your Instructions Image (based on some other sets that had more-or-less convenient instructions sheets), please make it optimized for viewing/reading on the actual Roll20 tabletop. Make a widescreen shaped instructions image, not a Piece Of Paper size and shape, make the fonts large enough, and make the line-length short enough (compact paragraph/sentences with short linebreaks that are easy to read on the tabletop). Most people will not print-out the instructions image, nor view it in a graphics editor, but will instead literally place the instructions image down on the Roll20 map page, and drag+zoom until it becomes readable. &nbsp;I've seen some Instructions Images that were made for 8.5x11" paper, and when you expand this on the tabletop the font still isn't big enough to read on-screen. A cool technique is for the GM to press "Z" or "Shift-Z" to view the instructions sheet at full-screen pop-up size, but some users don't know about this method so many will just drag-and-resize-and-zoom until they can read it. I would think more of the on-screen instructions on a console video game (simple, big words, big arrows, full screen), not a written page.

These are good tips! Thanks again Gold, you've been a big help and I think we likely avoided a complete rework of the pack. &nbsp;You're awesome!

BTW: If you've learned a bunch of tips that aren't in the wiki, please add them to the wiki. It might help save other people pain in the future. (I've also had trouble with image sizing on the marketplace. Assets I uploaded worked perfectly, then when I posted them to the marketplace, they seem to "forget" their original dimensions. So people have to manually scale them up.)

plexsoup said: BTW: If you've learned a bunch of tips that aren't in the wiki, please add them to the wiki. Will do!

Great to see such friendly and helpful discussion. &nbsp;The API will help a lot of GMs, I'm sure.... however, I'm a lowly Plus subscriber so I'm still stuck with altering the sizes of the tokens one at a time which may seem like a trivial thing but it will certainly take up a larger chunk of time to make a map for my players. &nbsp; Possible solutions from the roll20.net side: a) a keyboard shortcut for altering dimensions, b)&nbsp;ability to alter multiple tokens on group select, c) some way to copy and paste token properties, or d)&nbsp;API available for ALL paid subscribers. Possible solution from the creator's side: The real issue, as far as I can tell, is that transparent border around the outside of the image. &nbsp;If the images were to lose that border, the images could be dropped into the token layer and automatically fit and snap to the grid. &nbsp;Then users could group select them and move them all to the map layer once finished. As is, I've been dropping them on the token layer for snapping purposes, resizing them with set dimension (103x103, remember ctrl-v to paste) &nbsp;then copying and pasting tokens to add to the map whenever possible. &nbsp;I get a little less variation that way but it sure beats resizing every tile.&nbsp; &nbsp;Hope this tip helps others!

I've noticed that transparency in assets tends to cause the most issues with resizing, from what I can tell resizing blunders tend to only happen in assets with it. &nbsp;Unfortunately for hex tiles you can't not &nbsp;have transparency, because of the shape. Scott I also wish I could get a mass select -&gt; resize option. That would be amazing.

cecil, certainly images that do not have transparency are still subjected to the tabletop's resizing configuration. Most assets dropped onto Token Layer with grid turned on, are resized to 1x1 unit, regardless of transparency; likewise the Map Layer usually resizes assets to 2x3 or 3x3. I don't know why it works this way, but Roll20 seemed to change to this pattern quite a while back. For the mass select & resize option, that would be cool as a default feature, as discussed right now this can easily be done with Pro subscription and TokenMod API. &nbsp;What you might not know, you can get a Pro subscription upgrade for the 1 month price, do the resize work, and then stop the subscription. In your subscription time, drop all the hexes onto a Page in Roll20. Use TokenMod API to resize them all. Then cancel subscription if you want, the tokens will remain resized and you can copy-paste them at the desired size within that game from then on. &nbsp;It's only costed one-single-month's price, and you can do all the resizing that you want with a mass select in the time that your subscription is active.

&gt;&nbsp;the Map Layer usually resizes assets to 2x3 or 3x3 That is an odd choice of behaviour to set as default. It's not even an option anywhere, as far as I can tell.

Correct, plexsoup, there is not a setting or option to control that, presently. Note: If you drop the graphics with the grid turned OFF, the behavior is a bit different. It still resizes it, but does a better job of maintaining the aspect ratio of the original art on non-square and non-2x3 shaped assets. &nbsp; If you have a long road image, rainbow, bench, or a tall portrait or wide landscape map, it is recommended to drop it first with the grid turned off, then stretch to proper size, at least it will retain the original shape in this way.

It's a really good looking set Cecil. The transperant tiles are an excellent addition to any map.

Gold said: Good discussion, cecil . The extra resolution does allow for sharper quality when viewing the maps zoomed-in (say 150% or up to 200%). &nbsp;It also displays at full res if the GM selects a hex and press SHIFT-Z the command to pop-up a graphic at full screen size. I don't draw a conclusion either way about whether the hexes should be at this size, or reduced to fit the grid without resizing. Great to see the artist considering it either way. Scott , since you are a Roll20 Pro subscriber, you have access to the API. &nbsp;If you install the community-created API script TokenMod (made by The Aaron), you can create a one-button-macro that resizes these hexes to the ideal (103x103 pixels). &nbsp;The API button is capable of resizing each hex with 1 button-click as you place it, or, you could drop a bunch of hexes on the map, select them all, and do a bulk resizing with this method. TokenMod API, <a href="https://wiki.roll20.net/Script:Token_Mod" rel="nofollow">https://wiki.roll20.net/Script:Token_Mod</a> Even better might be to use my&nbsp; ScaleOnAdd script: Set the size: !scale-on-add --set 103 103 Toggle on and off: !scale-on-add --toggle Then whenever you add a graphic to the page, it's rescaled to 103x103. &nbsp;=D

Leave it to the Aaron to ride in to the rescue like the cavalry with his script posse.

You guys are badasses. And pretty and run fast.

Gold said: One tip I've got for making your Instructions Image (based on some other sets that had more-or-less convenient instructions sheets), please make it optimized for viewing/reading on the actual Roll20 tabletop. Make a widescreen shaped instructions image, not a Piece Of Paper size and shape, make the fonts large enough, and make the line-length short enough (compact paragraph/sentences with short linebreaks that are easy to read on the tabletop). Most people will not print-out the instructions image, nor view it in a graphics editor, but will instead literally place the instructions image down on the Roll20 map page, and drag+zoom until it becomes readable. &nbsp;I've seen some Instructions Images that were made for 8.5x11" paper, and when you expand this on the tabletop the font still isn't big enough to read on-screen. A cool technique is for the GM to press "Z" or "Shift-Z" to view the instructions sheet at full-screen pop-up size, but some users don't know about this method so many will just drag-and-resize-and-zoom until they can read it. I would think more of the on-screen instructions on a console video game (simple, big words, big arrows, full screen), not a written page. That is a wonderful tip Gold. I'll make sure my future set instructions are more user friendly as well.