A review copy of “Hexalege V1 and 2 + Art Pack” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.

Designed by: Fernando Salvaterra

Hexalege is the odd name for a collection of 12 points of interest that could pop up while exploring the world in a fantasy RPG. As many fantasy maps are divided into hexagons, each of these locations are depicted as individually detailed hexagonal tiles, like that kind you’d find in a board game such as Catan, along with multiple d6 tables for filling in the details.

The 12 hexagonal tiles all feature interesting and varied landmarks, each of which would make a compelling area for adventurers to find and explore, such as a fallen log that spans a deep chasm, an island temple with glowing crystals, and floating landmass with a fort, forest, and underground dungeon.

These areas could act as an interesting encounter during travel, a single scene, or the start of an entire side quest or adventure.

Each location includes three d6 tables that ask questions about each area, anticipating the aspects and areas that players would care about most.

For example, The Adventurer’s Retreat features a picturesque lake with a dock, a rowboat, an islet, and an occupied hut. The three tables ask Who lives in the hut? (a retired ranger, a cursed wizard, a couple of thieves hiding out after a big score); What’s on the lagoon islet? (a trapdoor to a hideout, an empty chest, the top head of a buried statue); and What’s in the waterfall? (a screaming turtle, a map, a corpse that looks exactly like the person living in the hut).

adventurer's retreat

I love the detailed descriptions in these tables. These aren’t bullet points with a few words each, but entire paragraphs of information filled with sensory details, sometimes enough to form an entire cutscene.

One of the phenomenon that could take place at Windbreak Mountain includes the following event:

A procession of gigantic specters marches across the sky, descending towards the mountain with banners, trumpets, and pages throwing flower petals along the way. The procession stops and an elven lady asks to be welcomed back from her journey around the world. “I found nothing of real value in the world of living mortals. Let me return,” she says in a voice the size of the dunes. A huge door opens on a wall and the procession enters. The door closes without leaving a trace of its existence.

Incredible! Most of the entries are not quite as evocative or intriguing, but still offer amazing little scenes and ideas.

Sometimes these creative tables get a bit too wild, weird, and reminiscent of Mad-libs (or Cards Against Humanity), such as a reclusive, naked witch and her musical cacti and flying cats who “travel through dreams of war to drink the blood of generals” in the Lookouts of Eternity, or in the Swamp of the Lost Boot, stumbling upon a field of farting zucchini that attack the nervous system and “make their victims shit laughing until death.”

On the flip side, we don’t get any actual encounter ideas, traps, puzzles, etc. It’s completely system agonistic, and doesn’t utilize D&D rules or anything in the actual D&D IP (it’s available on both the DMs Guild and DriveThruRPG*).

*my dumbass didn’t realize this when I recorded the video review above, oops!

If hostile monsters are mentioned, we’re not given any statblocks or creature notes. Potential traps and hazards lack DCs for saves, and loot is purely ornamental rather than utilizing magic items or adventuring gear. As a result, the DM (or GM) is forced to spend more time using these locations as anything other than background dressing when traveling. It’s a glaring, hexagonal-shaped hole in an otherwise stellar product.

 Pros:

  • 12 interesting locations, each with three d6 tables for filling in details.
  • Each location is artistically represented by a lovely, full color, detailed hex tile.
  • Hex art included as separate image files.

Cons:

  • Lacks encounter tables and more interactive features, such as traps and puzzles.

The Verdict: Hexalege fills a much-needed gap in many world-building designs by providing compelling, thoughtful points of interest for players to stumble upon during their travels, though the lack of actual encounters limits its usefulness.

A review copy of “Hexalege V1 and 2 + Art Pack” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.

Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.