1. SYSTEM
I've always used a magnetic board for both the census and the AST.
This way at any moment during the game anyone can see the stats.
No doubt this works really great, but not everyone uses this way of showing the AST.
I've also seen pictures of:
- Easy to print AST and Cenus on the wall and using markers.
- Easy to print AST and Census on a pin-up board and use pins.
- Laminated AST and Census and use removabale ink.
All options propbably work great, but I'm looking for the best option for default, and this will be just a normal AST and Census lying on the table with tokens lying on it.
2. SIZE
When I was creating the new player tokens, containing the new colors combined with the removal of the AST and Census from off the board in the new E/W split I also had to create a new AST.
I actually found it strange always that the Advanced Civilization AST and Census tokens were just a little bit smaller than the player tokens.
That's why I tried to make them just the same size and now I understand why this is.
It sure it great to have a bigger scheme as anyone from the far end of the table can see the AST (and for any optional system as described above anyone will find the best option for this), but enlarging the AST tokens, also enlarged the AST and Census mat, and this becomes more expensive as well as unhandy.
I've tried it, and now I'm sure to decrease the sizes again.
3. APPEARANCE
Another thing is, I thought of putting an image of the population markers on the AST and C-tokens. This way everyone can immediately see and recongnize the players, especially when playing in a low lit room, or for player having trouble seeing colors (and those two combined).
BUT, removing the name make it even harder, especially for new-comers to easiliy recongnize the civilization. Therefore I think making a combination of name and image and color for the tokens is the best option as long as it doesn't become messy.
Adding the AST numbers could help, but these numbers will vary depending on playing one or both boards. SO two different tokens should be made.
4. FLIPSIDE
In my magnetic board this option won't directly work, but I've thought of the flipside fuctions as well, in line with flipside options for tokens on the board. I've created tokens with only the base color for the flipside.
For both the AST and the Census you can use the flipside to indicatie which civilization is done moving or altered on the AST.
Why only a color? Each player that isn't ready yet has its name shown. These are the only civs that should be mentioned. You can immideately see which players are to go and you don;t have to care about who has finished. Those player become 'invisible' on the scheme, yet still visible in color.
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