Here is the problem, I would like to have a way that pieces can move in any direction but not use a ruler.
I don't want a ruler because the piece's maximum distance it can move should not be obvious to the other players. Meaning if I want to move my piece (which could in fact be a peasant that moves up to 2 "measurements", or an assasin that can move up to 5 measurements but will cloak its identity by only moving 2) I don't want the other players to to see me pull out the ruler and measure because it would tip them off; or conversly it would force me to measure each one of the possible measurements out in order to mask the piece's true identity.
Or is this not a problem if I get a special ruler with the say 4 different maximum distance values marked off, and then have the players sweep a diameter around the piece to see just how far they can choose to move it? Or drop a physical ring(s) of the distance it can go with the piece in the center?
My first thought was to have lots of points on the board, and then from each point have different colored circles that correspond to the different distances be on the board. But this made the board have a lot of overlapping circles of different colors, which is confusing.
What I'm looking for is a way for a player to see how far their unit can move "at a glance", hopefully without measuring.
Normally I'd just have the piece be able to move X spaces max (and therefore if one wanted to move the lesser number to help hide the true identity of the piece they could), but I haven't found a configuration of laying out spaces on a board that gives the flexibility of moving in any direction, and not feeling penalized or rewarded for being on certain axises. (such as squares, if you go diagonally you travel a farther distance then on the flat sides, or a hex map where if you want to travel in the direction of the point and not the flat side it takes more movements)
Any kind of suggestions? I hope I'm explaining what I'm after properly.
One suggestion is to use a web of nodes. The board has spaces that can be occupied, but they don't necessarily line up on a grid of any kind. Spaces are joined by lines, indicating one "measurement" of possible movement. This allows you to give your board a setting and provide obstacles such as mountains or lakes and choices for movement. The lines of movement can be weighted, also. One line could require 3 "measurements" rather than the default one, or could require special mobility attributes, such as flight, mining or a boat.
Depending on your target audience, you may want to limit the complexity involved. Having rulers, rings or other measuring devices will automatically limit you to wargamers or similar players who are interested in the freedom of movement, but aren't turned off by the tedium of measuring.
On the other side, a simple measuring device, such as a string with colored segments can easily be used without giving away the measurement (the opponent doesn't know whether I'm looking at the blue line or the red line).
Just some ideas.