Hexcrawl: Campaign Style Guidebook
Hexcrawl: Campaign Style Guidebook by Matthijs Holter (KR1 Publishing) is a system-agnostic GM handbook for running long-form wilderness exploration campaigns.
- Game system
- Any system / system-agnostic
- Product type
- Setting Guides
- Language
- English
Product overview
It turns overland travel into an active, low-friction gameplay loop through six core principles, structured exploration turn procedures, map-building frameworks, keyed location guidelines, and practical GM checklists. The book includes a complete sandbox starter region, The Thornwall Frontier, ready to drop directly into fantasy RPGs like Shadowdark, OSR, 5e, or Pathfinder 2e.
Exploration Turn Procedures and Six Core Principles
The guidebook establishes clear, low-overhead mechanics for managing travel, visibility, resources, and navigation at the table. Rather than hand-waving journeys, its step-by-step exploration turn structure ensures player decisions and environmental hazards actively propel the narrative.
Sandbox Tools and The Thornwall Frontier Region
Gamemasters receive practical frameworks for constructing hex maps, keying sites of interest, creating encounter tables, and managing handouts. The book includes 'The Thornwall Frontier', an immediately playable starter sandbox region that demonstrates all core concepts in action.
Ideas for your table
- GMs can implement the exploration turn checklists to structure travel segments in ongoing 5e or OSR wilderness campaigns.
- The Thornwall Frontier sandbox can be used as a self-contained starting zone for new low-level adventuring parties.
Questions & answers
Is this guidebook tied to a specific ruleset?
No, it is entirely system-agnostic and designed to adapt to systems such as Shadowdark, OSR titles, D&D 5e, and Pathfinder 2e.
Where can the digital and printed editions be acquired?
GMCraft features editorial summaries, while complete PDF downloads and physical softcover books are available on DriveThruRPG.