A hex crawl is only as good as the locations…
A good hex crawl means total freedom for the players. They can go in any direction they want and neither the GM nor the players will know for sure what will happen and how the session will play out. Randomness is at the heart of hex crawling, but one thing that shouldn’t be totally random is the locations the PCs come across, because that rarely lead to engaging gameplay.
To help you prep your hex crawl games we’ve gathered this list of brilliantly succinct one-sentance hex crawl locations that you can sprinkle across your next hex map!
Hex crawling is an important part of the old school renaissance (OSR), and speaking of that, check out our post: “How to think OSR when playing ttrpgs?“.
100 Hex crawl locations
| D100 | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | A small lake of acid with an island in the center, a pile of metallic objects can be spotted on the island |
| 2 | A tall rock pillar where a giant raven have made its nest, the PCs can see it rearrange some precious items |
| 3 | A deep pond of ice cold water (winter? magical?), at the bottom lies a/an sword/shield/helmet/necklace |
| 4 | A massive boulder seems to have crushed a cart and interesting items can be seen sticking out, I wonder what lies underneath? |
| 5 | A huge tree stands in the open, it’s an unknown type and a magnificently golden fruit hangs from one of the top branches, how would one get up there safely? |
| 6 | A rock slide has covered the entrance to a cave, through a gap you can see a golden light flickering. |
| 7 | Off shore of the shark infested waters you see a large clamshell opening and closing, Inside is a pearl that looks to be the size of your fist. |
| 8 | The narrow bridge before you spans a 50 crevice and would be simple to traverse except for the Kobold totem. |
| 9 | A Stonehenge-like set of stones among the ruins of an old tower, the stones seem to flicker occasionally making shapes on the ground; on one of the stones an old thieves journal mentions a personal vault of the last owner before the tower was destroyed |
| 10 | A petrified man tightly holds a key to a cabinet that holds the cure |
| 11 | A dog runs over trying to get your attention. Following it leads to a stone well. The dog looks expectantly at the well and you hear a strange undulating sound. |
| 12 | You enter a smallish room that appears empty except for a single gold coin that is sitting on top of an obvious pressure plate that the coin is depressing |
| 13 | A wide, swiftly flowing river blocks your movement ahead and the only means of possible traversal lie in the damaged ruins of a nearby ferry barge tethered to the bank |
| 14 | The twisted vines that cover the jungle floor writhe and coil in an attempt to ensnare the ankles of anyone passing through, but seem to retract in response to loud noises |
| 15 | A pungent marsh stretches out before you, with drowse inducing sulphur bubbles emerging from the bog waters of unknown depths |
| 16 | Between the momentary relief of cover from fallen boulders, the canyon winds drag sheets of sand and dust upon your face, stinging like hundreds of tiny needles |
| 17 | The beautiful sound of a woman singing draws you to a moonlit clearing within the depths of the dark forest, where the figure of a pale faceless woman bathes in a shimmering pond |
| 18 | The twisted trail connects with 3 others at a crossroads nestled in the foothills, the only directional guide taking the form of a signpost made out of an upright log with 4 daggers lodged in its bark |
| 19 | In the distance, what at first appeared to be a rolling dust cloud is now clearly the oncoming stampede of beasts, sweeping across the plain in a panicked sprint |
| 20 | There's a small portal high up in the side of a cliff face that can be see from far away. Through the portal you can see water, a sunken ship nearby, and large dark shapes guarding the ship. No water comes through the portal |
| 21 | In a magical school or mages tower, resides the largest gem of the realm. It's enclosed in a magical barrier, clearly sitting on the tongue of a mimic treasure chest |
| 22 | A traveling tinker has locked himself out of his wagon |
| 23 | A smooth, stone pillar, roughly one hundred feet tall, holds a treasure chest at the top |
| 24 | A large hole in the side of a tree appears to be the opening to a tunnel |
| 25 | A rare medicinal flower grows in the middle of a field of thorny bushes |
| 26 | A maze has inexplicably appeared in a local corn field |
| 27 | A haze of noxious fumes surrounds an alchemists workshop |
| 28 | Three stories up the blank side of a tower, a patch of wall the size of a door is shimmering |
| 29 | At the bottom of a deep ravine a shattered wagon can be seen - as can a somehow perfectly healthy gnome tinker, calling up for help |
| 30 | The mayor has put out a reward for the first person that can cure his terrible gas |
| 31 | The best chef in town is requesting new and exotic ingredients to cook with |
| 32 | The proprietor of a pawn shop urges you to help find a suspected mimic hidden among their wares |
| 33 | You see a poster about a three day mounted race between towns, but horses aren't allowed |
| 34 | You're pretty sure you've seen the same shopkeep in the last three towns |
| 35 | While checking a local bounty board, you discover a wanted poster with your face on, but with a different name and for comiting a crime in a town you've never been to |
| 36 | You've walked down this street numerous times, and you are certain that store front wasn't there yesterday |
| 37 | You smell something burning coming from that business/house/building |
| 38 | You are approached by a woman who claims she is your wife, and knows numerous personal details about you |
| 39 | A man running through the streets claims he is being stalked by a giant dog |
| 40 | A farmer claims his chickens are no longer laying chicken eggs |
| 41 | A local hatter claims his competitor is using mimics to make hats faster and cheaper |
| 42 | A dairy farmer approaches you and claims all of their cows are screaming and won't stop |
| 43 | On the coast, a smokestack formation about 80' out into the sea glitters with a large pile, seemingly made exclusively of copper |
| 44 | A tree in the forest has footprints leading directly to it. The footprints stop at the tree, and no others are anywhere to be seen |
| 45 | A rickety old bridge spanning a deep ravine, with boards missing and ropes frayed |
| 46 | A heavenly aroma of mead and freshly baking cinnamon rolls wafts from the town crypt |
| 47 | A heavenly aroma of mead and freshly baking cinnamon rolls wafts from a quaint tavern with a sign saying “No Adventurers!” |
| 48 | You enter a large cavern where the floor drops into a deep, impassable ravine while a waterfall flows from the center of the ravine (a waterfly) into a prismatic lake on the ceiling. A small boat sits on the ground by the entrance; an exit can be seen across the ravine |
| 49 | In a busy tavern, you notice a door suddenly appear and dissappear on an otherwise empty wall |
| 50 | You see two kids chasing a dog through town, claiming it stole their toys, but something tells you that's no dog |
| 51 | A single blue flower grows in the center of a snowy clearing, rumored to hold magical properties. |
| 52 | A large ravine filled with mineral-rich rocks attracting a wide array of unique wildlife. |
| 53 | An old wishing well in the town square glows with a soft, magical light. |
| 54 | A constantly shifting desert where sand tornadoes are said to hide ancient relics. |
| 55 | A forest of whispering trees, known to guide lost travelers. |
| 56 | A waterfall that flows over a cliff face of gleaming crystal, rumored to enhance magical abilities. |
| 57 | A desert where the sand dunes shift and change, revealing buried treasures and hidden dangers. |
| 58 | A flickering lighthouse on a cliff edge, rumored to be haunted by a former keeper. |
| 59 | A grove filled with bioluminescent mushrooms providing light, perfect for a stealthy approach. |
| 60 | A grassy field where meteorites frequently fall, leaving behind a trail of rare, magical ore. |
| 61 | A half-submerged fort in the marshlands, its flooded chambers filled with both dangers and treasures. |
| 62 | A narrow path along a cliff face, decorated with snake carvings that seem to move out of the corner of your eye. |
| 63 | A pristine lake with a mirror-like surface that sometimes reflects scenes from other worlds. |
| 64 | A chasm where every sound echoes like a thunderclap, rumored to hold a powerful relic at its bottom. |
| 65 | An oasis with the remains of a long-lost caravan half-buried in the sand, treasure still untouched. |
| 66 | A towering pillar of black glass in the middle of a field, known to attract lightning during storms. |
| 67 | A fountain in the town square that remains frozen year-round, said to grant a single wish to anyone who can melt it. |
| 68 | Ruined towers with chimes that whisper secrets to those who listen closely. |
| 69 | An abandoned vineyard where the grapes are rumored to enhance magical abilities when fermented. |
| 70 | A hidden cavern entrance covered by thick underbrush, leading to a sprawling underground network. |
| 71 | A stream with mercurial waters rumored to accelerate time. |
| 72 | A tower submerged under a lake, visible only when the sun is at its zenith. |
| 73 | A moving hill said to be a sleeping giant, dotted with boulders that are rumored to be its lost treasures. |
| 74 | A forest whose canopy is a massive spiderweb, the spiders only appear during a full moon. |
| 75 | An abandoned blacksmith's workshop where the hammer can still be heard striking the anvil at midnight. |
| 76 | A bridge made of living vines, it shifts and changes according to the phases of the moon. |
| 77 | Fields filled with geysers that shoot out hot, mineral-rich water, creating a rainbow of colors when the sunlight hits them. |
| 78 | A cavern hidden by an illusion, only visible in the moonlight. |
| 79 | A grove of trees made entirely from driftwood, said to come alive at the sound of music. |
| 80 | A range of peaks so tall they touch the clouds, each peak is home to a different type of elemental creature. |
| 81 | A circle of stones that emit a haunting melody when the wind blows through them. |
| 82 | A forest of stalagmites in a cavern, home to crystal bats. |
| 83 | A flat mountaintop where the stars seem to come close enough to touch. |
| 84 | An abandoned silk farm, the spiders still produce a golden thread that has magical properties. |
| 85 | A field of flowers whose scent induces prophetic dreams. |
| 86 | A ruined ferryboat on the river shore, the ghost of the ferryman asks for a fare. |
| 87 | A solitary flame in the middle of a forest that never goes out. |
| 88 | A chasm in the earth that glows with an ethereal light, a faint hum can be heard from within. |
| 89 | An old stone bridge where every sound echoes thrice, each echo is said to reveal a truth. |
| 90 | A giant beehive made of gold, the honey within is rumored to grant immortality. |
| 91 | A grove where all the trees have been turned to stone, said to be the result of a medusa's curse. |
| 92 | A garden filled with lifelike statues, rumored to be the victims of a roaming basilisk. |
| 93 | A pond that reflects the moon even during the day, water elementals visit it during the full moon. |
| 94 | A large rock at a crossroads, covered in magical glyphs that provide directions. |
| 95 | A pit in the ground that devours anything thrown into it, nobody knows where it leads. |
| 96 | A tavern that appears in different locations each day, said to be pulled by an invisible dragon. |
| 97 | A house where the ghost of a widow is said to mourn, those who comfort her are given a valuable gift. |
| 98 | A pond filled with lotuses that glow with magical energy, said to enhance spellcasting abilities. |
| 99 | A statue that sighs once a year, said to bring good luck to those who hear it. |
| 100 | A mountain pass guarded by a giant stone golem, will only let those who answer its riddle pass. |
