Apart from the fact that the Census field is going to be seperated from the mapboard the current (and Advanced Civilization) version is far from optimal.
For my own game I've been using a total different one for years now. This has gone through several evolutions to finally come to where it's now.
Let me explain.
The current Census field is set up like a box form. THis already gave some problems for Advanced Civilization, but how could you ever place 18 different tokens on it and still see what happens.
THE PROBLEMS:
The main problems are:
1. Once you place a token on top of a number, you can not read the number anymore.
2. If you have more than one token on the same number you have to stack.
3. Picking up a token requires you to manouvre your fingers in between adjacent tokens, moving them to the side, and you have ot move them back.
4. Stacked tokens don't show AST order of the appropriate tokens.
5. Players that hold Military have to call it each round. You can't tell from the census field.
6. Especailly in the beginning you have to put all tokens on a small space (1-2-4-8-16) and later on you don;t use this space anymore.
This is quite a number of problems for a game system used each turn.
This is why I desgned a new field myself. This has to be standalone in the first place.
I do use magnetics, which make it even more optimal, but if you don't use magnetics, it still has to work. The upside for a standalone Census mat, is that you can move it around or place it somewhere all players can see.
This last thing REALLY is a great addition, because it speeds up the game. At any moment anyone can see who's next without leaning over the table or having to ask others.
THE SOLUTIONS:
Let's go through all problems and let me explain what my solutions are:
1. First you have to create ROOM for all tokens. I use a full sheet of paper (A4) and try to use this space as efficient as possible. I've been looking for a way to place the tokens NEXT TO a number instead of ON TOP. At all times you should be abled to read the numbers. This results in a line of numbers rather than a box. Next to each number a token can be placed.
2. This room has to be large enough to place more than one token. So it's gotta be more than the exact space for one token or duplicate of the number space. In addtion to the result of step 1, this line of number has to be curved so that it fits on a sheet of paper, and leave enought room around. Ofcourse you can create a straight line, but this requires both a large, slim piece of paper, as well as the same room on a table or wall.
A single sheet of paper is better in both cases.
3. In addtion to the first two steps, the tokens should not have to be placed direct adjacent to eachother but be abled to leave a little space in between. So the boxes of numbers should be a little larger than the tokens.
4. For each number you should be abled to create an 'inside' AST order, so that when more than one player have the same census count, you can still see their internal AST order.
5. Actually 'Military' required a second Census mat. Ofcourse you can keep it in mind, or say only one player hold it, but in the end, especially for 18 players, you really have to regard this 'sub'census. For several Military holders have to regard each others census counts. I solved this by using the other side of this line. SInce it's curved now, I use the inside of the curve.
6. In fact, the first steps don't require a census count. Up to 8 tokens all players move the same on the census line. For any exception it's this rare that it shows. (In other words: it never happens). For some Civilizations it may be needed or prefered to build ships early and in practice (for example for Minoa) this happens at 8 tokens and results in all players having 16 tokens, where Minoa has 12 tokens. I created a division between this starting edge. Actually the first 8 tokens are place in 'one big space' from that moment on you start counting. In general you never come back below 12 again, otherwise it's this rare again, that it shows. No use to make a census count for this.
Then:
- I counted most of the time players have tokens somewhere between 25 and 45 tokens. These areas should provide you with the most room.
- Some new players forget if it's the most or the least tokens to move first. So I put this ON the Census mat to explain. In addition I've put an arrow to show movement order. This goes for Military holders as well as non-military holders.
- I know, but any other user might not, so I've marked the area for players holding 'military' and the area for player's NOT holding 'Military'.
- For the looks, I've created some sort of Rock slab for background. It should not be this dominant, but still anything better than white.
- Where normally you'd put the name on top, this time, the tokens would be placed over it, so I've put 'Census' in the center of the mat.
So this is the one I'm using now:
You can freely move all markers around. You don't even have to pick them up. You can just slide them.
Some close ups:
For each single number you can place more than one token in AST order. The closer to the number, the higher on AST:
Not only does this census mat show 'Move First' and 'Move Last' for census count to remind new players, but also for reminding 'players holding military move last' and 'players non holding military move first'. Any experienced player don;t need this info, so military is a littel smaller. Also to divide it into these two functions.
For player's holding 'Military' you use the inside. More than one player holding Military? You can still see eachothers census counts.
All 18 tokens can be place next to eachother in the beginning, rather than on top of eachtother. I've created this starting space some bigger than the rest. Only for use for the first few turns.
Minoa stays another turn in the general starting space when all other players already have 16 tokens.
I have a highres PDF i've you're interested please contact me. This is a jpg preview:
