KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN 2: HEXISLE — THE HEXEL GAME

Modular Hydraulic Game Tiles That Actually Move

Project Title: HexIsle: The Hexel Game — Modular Tiles, Living Worlds

Category: Games > Tabletop Games

Subtitle: We’re building the ship. Join the crew.

Funding Goal: $12,000

CAMPAIGN HEADER IMAGE

[Image of assembled Hexels forming an island with ocean waves, characters standing on terrain, dramatic lighting]

THE HOOK

What if every tile on your game board could move?

Waves that actually roll. Tides that actually rise. Drawbridges that actually open when your character steps on the trigger.

This is HexIsle. This is the Hexel.

WHAT IS A HEXEL?

A Hexel is a 12-part modular game tile that snaps together, connects to other Hexels, and translates hydraulic power into physical movement.

Think of it as a pixel — but for tabletop games. And it moves.

Each Hexel contains:

• 12 precision-engineered parts
• Internal piston mechanism
• Connection points for adjacent Hexels
• Interchangeable top (land or water)
• Inverse hydraulic coupling (shares pressure with neighbors)

When connected to the Tereno Water Table:

• Ocean Hexels create moving waves
• Tides rise and fall on a 12-rotation cycle
• Ships move with the current at high tide
• Characters trigger mechanisms throughout the board

HOW HEXELS WORK

Assembly

1. Combine 12 parts into one Hexel (snaps together)
2. Place Hexel on Water Table or flat surface
3. Press down to connect to adjacent Hexels
4. Repeat until your world is built

Land Hexels

• Topped with Capstones (terrain pieces)
• 12 terrain types available
• Use compliant mechanism snap-ins for trees, buildings, etc.
• Characters stand via magnetic base (only where designed)

Water Hexels

• Topped with Capwaves (moving water surface)
• Powered by hydraulics from Water Table
• Contains Ouralis mechanism for tides
• Ships ride on “rudder keels” — engage at high tide
• Sawtooth60 design determines current direction

THE TERRAIN TYPES

THE MAGIC: MECHANISMS

HexIsle isn’t just terrain. It’s interactive.

Character-Triggered Mechanisms:

• Drawbridges that lower when a character approaches
• Trap doors that open
• Catapults that fire
• Hidden rooms that reveal
• Gates that require multiple characters standing on switches simultaneously

How it works: Each character has a tiny magnet at the base. This magnet:

1. Ensures characters can ONLY stand where designed (they’d topple elsewhere)
2. Triggers mechanisms when standing on activation points
3. Creates puzzle possibilities (3 characters on 3 switches = door opens)

THE WATER SYSTEM

When connected to the Tereno Water Table (companion campaign):

Waves

• Each water Hexel contains rotating wave mechanism
• Adjacent Hexels share hydraulic pressure inversely
• Creates realistic wave patterns across your ocean

Tides

• The Ouralis mechanism inside each water Hexel
• Every 12th rotation: tide rises incrementally
• Then falls back down
• Bedrock stays fixed — only the Capwave rises
• Ships don’t touch waves until high tide
• At high tide: Sawtooth60 engages, ships move directionally

Ships

• Placed on “rudder keels” attached to bedrock
• Ship hull hovers above waves at low tide
• At high tide: waves contact hull, current moves ship
• Direction determined by how Maker placed Hexels

WHAT YOU GET

HEXEL STARTER KIT (Base Reward)

• 12 Hexels (144 parts total)
• 6 Land Capstones (assorted terrain)
• 6 Water Capwaves
• 4 Character miniatures with magnetic bases
• Quick-start rules
• Storage bag

ISLAND BUILDER KIT (Mid Tier)

• 24 Hexels
• All 12 terrain Capstones
• 12 Capwaves
• 8 Characters
• Snap-in terrain pieces (trees, rocks, buildings)
• Full rulebook
• 2 Ships with rudder keels

WORLD CREATOR KIT (Premium)

• 48 Hexels
• Complete terrain set
• Complete Capwave set
• 16 Characters
• Full mechanism pack (drawbridge, catapult, traps)
• 4 Ships
• Modular palm trees (straight and curved)
• Canoe kit (transforms into Viking ship)

REWARD TIERS

$15 — BELIEVER

• Digital thank you
• Name on Founding Supporters page
• Digital rulebook access

$35 — ISLANDER

• Everything above, plus:
• 6 Hexels (72 parts)
• 3 Land Capstones
• 3 Water Capwaves
• 2 Character miniatures

$75 — EXPLORER

• Everything above, plus:
• 12 Hexels (full starter)
• 6 Land Capstones (assorted)
• 6 Water Capwaves
• 4 Characters with magnetic bases
• Quick-start rules
• Storage bag

$150 — ARCHITECT

• Everything above, plus:
• 24 Hexels
• All 12 terrain types
• 12 Capwaves
• 8 Characters
• Snap-in terrain pack
• Full rulebook
• 2 Ships with rudder keels

$300 — WORLD BUILDER

• Everything above, plus:
• 48 Hexels
• Complete terrain set
• Complete Capwave set
• 16 Characters
• Mechanism pack (drawbridge, catapult, traps)
• 4 Ships
• Modular palm trees
• Canoe→Viking ship kit
• Your name in credits

$600 — ISLAND LORD (Limited to 25)

• Everything above, plus:
• 72 Hexels
• Spare parts kit
• Custom terrain design session with creator
• Priority shipping
• Input on expansion content

STRETCH GOALS

$12,000 — FUNDED: Base Production Hexels get made!

$18,000 — Extra Character Pack 4 additional character types

$25,000 — Building Expansion Castle pieces, walls, towers

$35,000 — Creature Pack War Horse, Sea Serpent, Dragon

$50,000 — Advanced Mechanisms Trebuchet, portcullis, secret passages

$75,000 — Plant Growth System Hydraulic-to-pneumatic palm trees that grow over turns

$100,000 — Harvest Mechanics Plants that can only be harvested when mature

THE CANOE→VIKING SHIP SYSTEM

One of HexIsle’s unique features:

1. Start with canoes (2-6 depending on player count)
2. Disassemble during game
3. Combine parts into Viking ship
4. Add mast (from harvested palm tree trunk)
5. Add sail (from palm tree leaves)
6. Ship size depends on canoes used

Your resource gathering directly builds your fleet.

PART OF THE HEXISLE UNIVERSE

Back them all. Build the complete world.

WORKS WITH OR WITHOUT WATER TABLE

With Tereno Water Table:

• Full hydraulic experience
• Moving waves, rising tides
• Ship movement via currents
• Maximum immersion

Without Water Table:

• Static play (still amazing)
• All terrain features work
• Character mechanisms still trigger
• Full game experience, just no water movement

Start with Hexels. Add Water Table when ready.

THE TEAM

Jonathan Jones, Creator

• 9 years developing this system
• 1,200+ prototype models in Fusion 360
• 18 journals of designs and iterations
• Working prototypes for every mechanism
• Army veteran, father of 5

My kids have been play-testing Hexel configurations since they could stack blocks.

TIMELINE

RISKS AND CHALLENGES

Precision Manufacturing: Each Hexel has 12 parts that must fit together perfectly. We’ve refined through years of prototyping. Production requires careful quality control.

Hydraulic Compatibility: For full water features, you need the Tereno Water Table. Hexels work without it, but the magic comes from both together.

Mechanism Complexity: The triggers, traps, and interactive elements are intricate. We’ll start with proven mechanisms and add complexity in expansions.

FAQ

Q: Do I need the Water Table? A: No! Hexels work as a standalone game. The Water Table adds moving water, tides, and currents. Start with Hexels, add Water Table later.

Q: How hard is assembly? A: Each Hexel takes about 2 minutes to assemble. Once built, they stay together. Think LEGO but for game boards.

Q: Can characters fall over? A: Only if placed wrong! The magnetic base system means characters stand ONLY on designated spots. Elsewhere, they topple — that’s a feature, not a bug.

Q: What scales are compatible? A: Our Universal Scale Adapter system works with standard miniature scales (25mm, 28mm, 32mm). Tiny, small, normal, large, and enormous pieces all work on the same tiles.

Q: Can I design my own terrain? A: Eventually! Through our Liana Banyan platform, you’ll be able to design and manufacture custom terrain. Check out that campaign for details.

CLOSING

I wanted a game where the world felt real.

Not a video game. Not a screen. A physical world you build with your hands, where the ocean actually moves, where your choices actually matter, where pulling three levers at once actually opens the door.

This is HexIsle. This is nine years of my life.

We’re building the ship. Join the crew.

— Jonathan Jones Creator, HexIsle

CROSS-REFERENCE LANGUAGE

“Hexels come alive when powered by the Tereno Water Table — check out our companion campaign for the hydraulic engine that makes waves move and tides rise.”

“Want more characters? Back our Farmer/Warrior, Healer/Assassin, and War Horse mini-campaigns for additional game pieces.”

“All HexIsle products are manufactured through Liana Banyan — our design-to-doorstep system. Have your own game accessory idea? That campaign shows you how.”

Campaign Brief Created: December 2, 2025 Part of: HexIsle Universe / Liana Banyan Ecosystem Cross-references: All 6 campaigns