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Notes on Scale

Our goal at Hexed! Products is to offer visual aids that are useful for the majority of RPG players. Part of this means making our products available in different scales, since not all RPGs use the same one. To make sure we're all on the same page regarding the sizes of our miniature scenery, etc., we offer the info below. Or, you can go straight to a Chart of Our Scales.

"Scale" (as it applies here) is defined as a ratio that relates the size of an illustration or miniature reproduction to that of the actual object it represents. Scale is used for maps, plans & other engineering drawings, as well as for models & miniatures. It can be expressed in several different ways:

1. as a ratio (or fraction) of one "scale" measure to its equivalent in "real-world" measures (i.e. "1:48" or "1/36")
2. as a given "scale" measure equal to one "real-world" foot
3. as a number of "real-world" feet represented by one "scale" inch
4. as a measure of the actual height of the miniature (usually given in millimeters)

The first method is used for model cars, ships, aircraft, etc. (It's interesting to note that model trains use letters to designate scale, but these letters in turn refer to specific, well-established scale ratios. For instance, the "S" scale is a precise 1:64 ratio and "O" scale is 1:48.) The second method, usually expressed as a fraction of an inch (or a number of millimeters) per foot, was once commonly used for architectural plans and is sometimes used for wargaming miniatures. The third method is more common now in architectural plans, as well as in other engineering fields. The fourth method is the one most commonly used for miniature gaming figures.

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Probably the single most confusing aspect of scale in tabletop RPGs is the lack of a consistent scale for miniature lead figures. First of all, although "25mm" figures probably are more common, "28mm" and "35mm" figures are used also. Then, we have to consider that not all companies who make figures measure the height of their figures in the same way - some measure it to eye level of a standard 6' tall human, others measure to the top of the head. And of course, there is no real consistency among these companies when it comes to proportion or overall size even within a given scale (got any "heroic scale" figures?) In our research into scale and size, we came across at least 2 different interpretations of what the classic "25mm" figure size means. On some charts, the "25mm" scale was equated to a ratio of 1:73 (which was, in turn, said to be an effective match for 1:76 or 1:72 scale model trains.) On other charts, this same "25mm" scale was equated to a 1:64 ratio ("S" scale to model train enthusiasts, also known to many as the scale of "Hot Wheels" and other lines of die-cast miniature cars.)

Now consider the fact that tabletop gaming mats for RPGs (whether with hexagons or squares) generally have a 1 inch grid. Furthermore, most RPGs specify a scale of a certain number of feet (or meters) per inch (hex or square) for tactical simulation. Not all games specify the same number of feet, but this "feet per inch" method of expressing scale (as listed under number 3 above,) is still far more consistent than lead figure scales.

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Of course, we still have to deal with the fact that many RPG players already have substantial lead figure collections, and we believe it's safe to say that most RPGers collect & use what are called "25mm" figures. Of course, if the market demands larger scale products, we definitely will supply the products to meet that demand. But we feel that our 3D visual aids should look right with the majority of players' figures, even if the game you're using specifies a slightly smaller or larger scale in feet-per-inch for tactical simulation.

So, the "feet per inch" method of expressing scale still is the most useful for our products. This bypasses any confusion about the scale of lead figures and gives our products a consistent, defined scale. Cellulose Scenix™ are available with squares or hexes measuring one inch. If we see a demand for other scales or larger hexes/squares, we will offer them in the future.

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OUR SCALES

We offer our visual aid products in 3 primary scales, as shown on the chart above.

The first scale on the chart is a fairly small scale and can be used for vehicle-based games (including Steve Jackson Games' Car Wars®.)

The second scale is what we consider a common RPG scale, as it is used for d20 games and many other favorites. We call it the "Five Foot Scale," meaning 5 feet of distance is equal to 1 inch at scale. Some games may even specify this as 6 feet, but things work out close either way.

The third option we offer is a custom scale we created for Steve Jackson Games' GURPS® and other games that specify 3 feet (1 yard or 1 meter) to the inch. We call this the "Three-Foot Linear Scale" and here's how it works: Our playtesters found that when we made the walls 3-1/3 inches tall (which is 10 feet at the 1:36 scale,) they just looked too tall standing next to a standard 1 inch (25mm) figure. We even tried 8-foot walls at 1:36 scale, but they still were too tall (almost 3 inches) and didn't look right with 25mm figures. So we drew a compromise and created a scale that satisfies both requirements. The walls, floors, stair landings, etc., are all scaled so that 1 inch represents 3 feet of linear distance. However, the walls are only 2 inches tall (which would be just 6 feet tall at a true 1:36 scale) and the textures are scaled at 1:60 (like most figures.) We think it's the future of gaming, you decide...