Say I have this map:
The first two digits on each hex represent the X axis, the last two digits the Y axis, with 60º between both.
How do I calculate the shortest distance between two hexes? E.g. the distance between (01,01) and (07,02) is 6. The distance between (02,08) and (04,04) is 5.
Preferably without a conditional algorithm, of which I've seen a couple... All the coordinates being positive will hopefully make it simpler.