Hex Core Set · GR-HEX-001

Hex Core Set — 19 Illuminated Hex Terrain Tiles

The world's first magnetic hex terrain tiles with 25 individually addressable RGBW LEDs each. Drop them into your hex strategy game setup, build overworld RPG maps, or create hex game boards that actually glow.

Pre-Order on Kickstarter See How It Works
◆ Pre-order price: $599  ·  First 200 backers: $479 (20% off)

Hex Tile Compatibility

Compatible With Hex Strategy Board Games & More

Glowrune hex tiles use standard hex game tile dimensions. They slot directly into popular hex strategy game setups, replace cardboard terrain in hex wargames, and serve as overworld map tiles for tabletop RPGs.

🌾Hex Strategy Games
🚀Hex Game Expansions
🌍Martian Colonization Hex Games
⚔️Hex Wargames
🗺️RPG Overworld Maps
🏰Strategy Hex Games

Hex dimensions match standard hex game tile sizing. See our hex compatibility FAQ for exact measurements.

Illumination System

25 Individually Addressable RGBW LEDs Per Tile

Each of the 19 hex tiles in the Core Set contains 25 SK6812 RGBW LEDs — spatially distributed for per-zone animation control. Different areas of the same tile can display different colors and animations simultaneously.

Animation Examples

Wheat Fields — Golden Wave

Warm amber ripples across the tile face from one side to the other, simulating wind through grain. The dedicated white channel ensures the wheat color reads as warm gold, not muddy orange.

Animation Examples

Sea Tiles — Rippling Blue

Cool blue-white undulations pulse across the tile, with brighter peaks and darker troughs creating the illusion of light reflecting off moving water. Ocean hex terrain has never looked like this.

Animation Examples

Ore Mountains — Deep Pulse

Dark granite grey with veins of orange-gold pulsing outward from the tile center, suggesting the heat and pressure of ore deposits. The animation responds to the card draw — spike the pulse when ore is collected.

Connector System

Magnetic Snap — Place the Tile, It Connects

N52 neodymium pogo-pin connectors on every hex edge align tiles mechanically and complete the electrical circuit in a single motion. No plugging. No wiring between tiles. Place a tile and it powers on.

1

Plug in the controller tile

One 12V DC adapter plugs into the controller tile. The controller connects to the Glowrune app over Bluetooth and manages all tiles in the connected grid.

2

Snap tiles edge-to-edge

Hex tiles connect across any of their 6 edges. The N52 magnets pull the tiles into perfect alignment and the pogo pins complete the electrical circuit simultaneously — no separate power connections needed.

3

Swap art layers for your theme

Drop the UV-printed art layers onto each tile. The 3-point magnetic lock holds them securely. Swap between hex game terrain types, RPG biomes, or any expansion art pack in seconds.

4

Control from the app

Select animation presets or customize individual LED zones via the Glowrune iOS app. Your hex world comes to life — every tile animated, every biome distinct.

Art Layer System

Swappable Art Layers — Wheat, Sea, Desert & Beyond

The Hex Core Set ships with the Hex Classics art pack included — wheat, ore, pasture, forest, brick, and desert. Additional art packs cover fantasy biomes, sci-fi terrain, and more. Browse art packs →

🌾

Wheat Fields

Golden grain with warm LED backlight

🌊

Ocean Tile

Rippling blue-white sea animation

🏔️

Ore Mountains

Deep grey with gold vein pulse

🌲

Forest

Deep green flicker, canopy shadows

🧱

Brick Hills

Warm terracotta earthen glow

🏜️

Desert

Hazy sand shimmer, midday heat

🌋

Lava Fields

Art Pack expansion — $49

🌌

Void Plains

Art Pack expansion — $49

iOS & Android

App-Controlled Animations

The Glowrune iOS app connects over Bluetooth and gives you full control over every LED zone on every tile. Choose from curated presets or build your own animations.

Presets

One-Tap Scenes

Harvest Day, Harvest Night, Storm Rolling In, Harvest Season, Volcanic Event — curated animation scenes designed for specific game moments. Trigger them mid-game without breaking the table flow.

Custom Control

Per-Zone Editor

Tap any tile on the app map. Select any LED zone. Set color, brightness, animation speed, and pattern. Save configurations as custom scenes for your regular campaign map.

Platform

iOS at Launch · Android Planned

The Glowrune app launches on iOS with the Kickstarter campaign. Android development begins immediately post-funding. All app updates are free for registered backers.

Package Contents

In the Box

ItemQuantity
Hex terrain tiles (with LEDs + connectors)19
Controller tile (Bluetooth + 12V input)1 (included in 19)
Hex Classics art layer set1 set (covers all 19 tiles)
12V DC power adapter1
Quick-start guide1
Glowrune app download card1

Engineering Specs

Technical Specifications

Tile FormatHexagonal
Tiles Per Set19 (standard hex strategy game configuration)
LED TypeSK6812 RGBW (individually addressable)
LEDs Per Tile25
LED ProtocolSK6812 (compatible with WS2812 ecosystem)
Color ChannelsRed · Green · Blue · White (dedicated)
Connector TypeMagnetic pogo-pin (simultaneous mechanical + electrical)
Magnet StrengthN52 neodymium
Input Voltage12V DC
Power per Tile~2.5W max (all LEDs full white)
ConnectivityBluetooth LE (controller tile)
App PlatformiOS (launch) · Android (post-launch)
Art Layer MaterialUV-printed opal acrylic
Art Layer Retention3-point magnetic snap
Tile SurfacePolycarbonate shell with opal diffuser
Compatible GamesHex strategy board games, hex game expansions, hex wargames, tabletop RPG overworld

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Glowrune hex tiles are manufactured to standard hex game tile dimensions used by the leading hex strategy board games. You can use them as direct replacements for cardboard or plastic hex terrain tiles. The 19-tile configuration covers a standard full-island hex game setup. They are also compatible with ocean-themed hex game expansion builds.
No. Glowrune's magnetic snap connectors simultaneously align tiles mechanically and complete the electrical circuit. When you place a tile edge-to-edge with another tile, it connects — no plugging, no wiring. Power enters through a single tile via the 12V DC adapter and distributes across all connected tiles automatically through the connector chain.
Each art layer snaps onto the tile with 3 small neodymium magnets at alternating corner points. To swap: grip the edge of the current art layer, pull it off, place the new art layer over the tile, and press gently until the magnets engage. The whole process takes under 30 seconds for a full 19-tile set. No tools, no disassembly.
RGBW LEDs add a dedicated white channel to standard RGB. Mixing red, green, and blue channels can produce white-ish light but it has a color cast and is less efficient. The dedicated W channel in Glowrune's SK6812 LEDs produces true, clean white light — critical for terrain types like snowy mountains, moonlit plains, and stone dungeon tiles where pure white reads correctly. It also means brighter whites at lower power draw.
Yes. Glowrune hex and square tiles use the same connector standard. Both tile types power and communicate through the same magnetic snap system and are controlled by the same app. You can power a mixed hex/square setup from a single controller tile.

More questions? See the full FAQ →

Limited Early Bird Pricing

Reserve Your Hex Core Set

Join the waitlist and get notified the moment the Kickstarter launches. First 200 backers get 20% off — that's $479 instead of $599.

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