How do I use a hex tilemap?

Is it possible to use hexes (like opengameart.org/content/hexagon-tiles-93x ) in a tilemap? I tried using a negative Y spacing to try and get the tiles to overlap but it doesn't have any effect.

I suppose I could build the map by placing tiles with math. But I want to know what's the best way (development speed, memory usage) to do this.

For the tilemap object, on start of layout loop "with math".

Its pretty much the same as isometric.

I guess I'll have to make several copies of the tilemap object to get it to layer properly and do the X offset every other row.

Nope, just one.

You loop over all the xy's and place a tile at the projected coordinates.

screen.x = (map.x - map.y) * TILE_WIDTH_HALF

screen.y = (map.x + map.y) * TILE_HEIGHT_HALF

I don't quite understand your expressions. Did you mean

System -> On Layout Start -> Tilemap -> Set tile(Tilemap.PositionToTileX(x), Tilemap.PositionToTileY(y)) to tile Z? But that wouldn't allow placing tiles "inbetween" the normal grid.

Did you mean placing individual sprites?

It depends on how you draw the tilemap.

[attachment=0:1db58cgr][/attachment:1db58cgr]

Put that image into a tiled background image, and you might get the idea.