I've done EPP with hexagons and I can tell you for certain, the acrylic templates were very invaluable to me when I did it. However, this is something to sit down and think about before you purchase them, is this going to be a pattern that you'll revisit several times or is this going to be a one and done type situation. I only say that because acrylic templates can get expensive and buying them for a one time quilt would be a waste of money, in my opinion. I ended up buying the acrylic hexagons because the minute I showed people I was working on a Grandmother's Flower Garden, they were asking for one. Last count, I've got four GFG's to do, so the acrylics became an investment for me. As well as the triangle and diamond acrylics for the GFG's variations. Acrylics would make the quilt go faster and probably better, just make sure the money spent for them is a good investment down the road.