I posted the following ideas on the BoardGameGeek (BGG) forum. These images on the counters are not official GMT representations (though they do use GMT art - which is © Copyright Rodger B. MacGowan and GMT Games LLC, 2005).

I noticed that you have Jeff Paul's prototype images on your site covering GMT's announcement of blocks for the upcoming C&C Ancients set. Those are all cool images and I appreciate that you are putting up prototype imagery created by fans to help spur interest in the game. Since GMT is definitely going with the block format, I was wondering if I might offer a suggestion for the blocks that GMT will be making.

Wooden squares are fine component and they are certainly used in a lot of wargames, but it's my thought that there are block shapes other than squares that might make the game more visually appealing. I've sent a note off to GMT about the thought of using oblong, 3-sided blocks rather than the traditional square ones for the Ancients game. The advantages being, as I sent it to them:

1. An oblong with three sides resting on one of the long sides will be more stable than a square block set on edge. I realize that there is no fog of war information to lose if the tile falls over, but if the table is bumped or the map is moved, the chance of disrupting the position of the pieces is at least minimized.
2. Visually, such an oblong would be a little bit closer in appearance to a line of infantry or cavalry than a square block set on edge. Especially if they are arranged in rows one behind the other.
3. The surface of the oblong will have two sides that are sloped so that each player will be able to view the graphics/information on a particular oblong from a slightly better angle. And, due to the reduced height of an oblong vs. the square, players should be able to see over the oblong to whatever other units are behind a little more more easily.
4. An oblong would be a distinctive component feature that distinguishes it from any other wargame currently on the market. Players looking in on a C&C Ancients game for the first time will know immediately that it is not a Columbia block wargame-- or any other block wargame for that matter. I know of no wargame that has used this shape, which has all the advantages of the square block (stable, easily produced, displays information to the players in two directions at once) and offers improvement upon it in the context of C&C Ancients.

John Foley asked me some questions about working with different materials (wood versus plastic), which allowed me the chance to add some additional thoughts to the article.

I agree that if the blocks were cast pieces of resin, then it ought not cost more (or much more) than similarly sized cubes.

I really have no idea about the same blocks made in wood. I have used band saws and table saws to cut shapes and bevels, and my experience has been that a good table saw generally has the capacity to turn and lock the blade at a prescribed angle. Since the angle on the blocks I suggest are either a standard 45 or 60 degrees, I would have thought that an angled cut would probably make the block cost more, but perhaps not prohibitively more.

If the angle is off by a degree or two (or three, heaven forbid), then yes, I suppose the discepancy would manifest itself on the table if the blocks were touching side-to-side, but it may not be a problem if they are arrayed one behind the other (as the illustration suggests). Actually, my chief fear on blocks cut in the suggested three-sided fashion is that the wood might shear on the edges and that might prove a bit unsightly if a sticker can't hide the flaw.

It occurs to me also that if wooden, square-cut blocks are THE choice, then maybe they, too can be oblongs of the type found in the Simmons Games titles Napoleon's Triumph and Bonaparte at Marengo. These are rather long, thin oblongs with symbols stamped into the block. Rather like early editions of Stratego and Napoleon. Some nice, square cut blocks with elegant, stamped (or stickered) symbols and text might be very nice. (If stickered, maybe something along the lines of the unit counters from the GDW Napoleonic game, System Seven, only not quite so dry. I can try to work up an illustration of that, too.)

Whether wood or resin, I would have thought the supplier could offer shapes other than squares for a bulk order. But, as I said, I'm ignorant of the process and the perils. My primary interest is in getting the game!