By the way, what about some support figurine like in "The Settlers II"?

I sketched this (scroll down): http://wido.freehostia.com/prova/

My idea is to have different figurines as the game advances, to suggest to the player that he is getting deeper into the game (game-play or game-story):

*) In the tutorial: almost nude figurines (like in the sketch).

*) During the first missions of the campaign: lightly equipped figurines (a figurine with a sickle, the other one with a dagger).

*) During the last missions of the campaign: well equipped figurines (hammer and pincers, sword and shield).

How about a first step:

having one of those corner graphics for each tribe? than later on (based upon those tribe graphics) there could be different versions that could be used either in campaign or like Dwarik mentioned - in different points of strength of the player.

And just to avoid comments like "I don't want my window filled with such graphics" - it should not be a problem to implement an option for switching those graphics off, if someone really dislikes them.

So generally: Good idea! And the sketch looks already promising.

Ahh and the name of the map should best be written by the engine so every map would show the fitting name - so don't put too much work in the name block

Cheers Nasenbaer