Hex

Hex (short for hexagon) refers to the cells that make up the hex map forming the basis of every location in Fallout, Fallout 2, and J.E. Sawyer's Fallout Role-Playing Game. The hex map has been abandoned in Fallout Tactics and Van Buren, in favor of non-grid movement and weapon ranges.

Function
Each map is subdivided into a hexagonal tiling, which is used by the engine to determine movement, weapon range, line of sight, and so on and so forth. In order to interact with characters and scenery, the player needs to be on an adjacent hex. Talking is the exception, as it can be initiated at range.

Movement
In combat, all characters move at a rate of 1 Action Point per hex (a crippled leg increases the cost to 4 AP per hex; if both are gone, the character is immobilized).

Range
Each weapon's range is also measured in hexes. Generally, the further away a target is, the lower the chance to hit. If a character is beyond the weapon's range, it cannot be attacked at all.

As a rule, unarmed and melee weapon have a range of 1 hex, meaning the character next to be right next to the target to attack. The sole exceptions are spears and sledgehammers, which have a 2 hex reach.

Bugs

 * In vanilla Fallout and Fallout 2, the screen cannot be moved far enough to use the maximum 50 hex range for weapons. Non-player characters have no such limitation.