def direction_to_tuple(direction):
    """Returns the tuple coordinate offset from the start
    hexagon given a certain direction"""
    return {
        'n'  : (0, -1),
        'ne' : (1, -1),
        'se' : (1, 0),
        's'  : (0, 1),
        'sw' : (-1, 1),
        'nw' : (-1, 0)
    }[direction]