I am curious about what the good options are? I dislike the square patterns of the Civ series, and I don't have the patience for the tape measure and string method when playing a board game.
Well, board games were never going to get it right despite some pretty good attempts. War is just too fluid. A computer is a superior tool. Any game designer who prefers the board game is a game designer with limited means (most likely) or without an interest in realism.
About computers going beyond hexes... The plain fact is that some people like turn based, and some people like continuous time games. Saying that one is better than the other is arguing that apples are better than oranges. I'm sure that I could get rid of the hexes in TOAW, but what's the point? Why would it be a better game without them? The UI would definitely be messier, with counters all over the place.
This point has nothing to do with my original point. Whether or not a game is turn-based has absolutely nothing to do with it being or not being hex-based. If people like turn-based well give them turn-based or whatever. Breaking up the game into chunks can be extremely beneficial for PBEM games and such. However, the hex-based system is so inflexible and so poorly equipped to reflect real life situations that I suspect there are entirely different reasons why it is still around.
And the point about the UI is also completely irrelevant and, I'm sorry, lacking in vision.
I also absolutely could put in a 3d terrain set that didn't use hexes. The problem with that option is that artwork is very expensive, especially is you want it to look good. A few trees on a plain is simple, but realistic woods, mountains and equipment is something totally different.
Ah, the old "3D graphics are too complicated" argument. This one doesn't hold water either. Why does not using hexex imply expensive graphics? Please explain this point to me because I'm afraid I don't get it.
3D graphics do not have to be hard on your system at all, but this is beside the point. Getting rid of hexes does not imply that 3D graphics are the only option. All getting rid of hexes implies, in fact, is getting rid of hexes. What you make after the hexes are gone depends solely on your imagination (or lack thereof).
I honestly don't understand where these arguments come from. It's amazing to me how many people will come up with something that usually sounds like: I don't want to see progress because I am happy with what's around right now. Or even worse: I don't want to see progress because my computer might not be able to handle it. Well, honestly, too bad for you. I do want to see something new and I don't care if you want to stay in the stone ages. Besides, if your not interested in playing the new games and your computer can't handle them anyway, why do you care if the new games are there or not?
Thankfully, HPS is not the norm and there are several companies out there moving forward. In fact, wargaming is alive and well because of them. The only thing I would like to see is a decent stab at operational level warfare.
Cheers
Paul