I understand you are sensitive to the issue but if you go back and look at what I said and meant I think you will see that I did think carefully about what I wrote. All I was saying was that color should be one of the ways in which counters are distinguished -- and then I highlighted this by pointing out examples that effectively combine color with differentiating symbols/icons so that those who are colorblind are not left out. I clearly was not saying that we should ignore your demographic or the challenges it poses.

Especially since we all agree! 

I don't think I've made any secret of my admiration for Avalanche Press' graphic design. Those counters are beautiful. So much information packed in there, but you'd never call them "cluttered".

The problem with "national" insignia in a sci-fi setting is that someone has to come up with them... i.e. there's no historical reference to draw upon.

Agreed, avalanche press is top of the line for simple, yet information-filled designs.

One option would be to use current insignia and create a background around why the US Flag has a big red dot in it (Cause we merged with Japan, of course, in 2865)

Is this getting anywhere? I want something else than Wardog, perhaps this is it?

Heh heh...
Very nice answer.
Vague, somewhat cryptic, and *almost* totally uninformative. 

[attachment=0]Trooper005_head.JPG[/attachment]

I really like the idea of a SF tactical game with abstract grafics in the way ogre or similar games does it. The way Dan thinks with his "minimalistic" style suits wonderful to me. So possibly I can contribute one or another idea to it.

For example here is the counter layout of an older ame from Mayfair. "Hammer-Slammers" which theme is about high tech mercs vs. conventional ground troops on exotic planets.

The above are the Hover troops and below are conventional units.

Possibly Dan could tell us something about the background of his quantum legion idea? I think the grafical style of map and counters should represent the theme of a game to some extent.

Some elements I would like in quantum legion are:

-simple to grasp, but difficult to master ruleset (not more complicated than lets say SJGs ogre - or even simpler)
-coloured and beautiful grafical style for map, counters and game tables.
-Big counters which are easy to hold and stack (how about standup counters?)
-modular rules - easy to modify ruleset for further add-ons from MJ12 and user-made mods/units
-exotic terrain rules and rules for different gravity/athmospheres
-supply options? (I dont know about the scale of the game, so this is just a guess)

Plastik minis would be cool but I doubt that this is a feasible idea. They have disadvantages too:

-high production costs and thus a big financial risk
-dan has to find someone who is able to sculpt them
-the game has to be sold as box (no pdf)
-big hexes or you cannot stack units
-you cannot depict game stats on them

I am a big A&A fan and I really like those minis, but IMO this is a level too risky for a such a small company like MJ12. (except Dan is quite wealthy and is willing to take the risk - which I of course dont know )

Okay, since I killed all discussion, here's something pretty to look at.....[attachment=0]Trooper_001H_b.jpg[/attachment]

..yeah, there were a LOT of iterations to get here. The other units - not so much. 

It moonwalks nicely....

They look really cool with the paint jobs Dan. But I think legibility-wise the black silhouette is easier to register.