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Ran into a rules problem during playtesting. Nobody understands activation. The rules are technically correct, but by themselves are inadequate to give people a 'feel' for how leaders, command radius, and activation *really* work. A good analogy to something familiar is needed. I've actually managed a silly analogy that I hope and think works. Comments are solicited.

Q: I don't understand activation. How does it work?

A:Pretend all the pieces are robots, little gas-powered robots. They have their engines and little gas tanks in their bases, the bottom of each piece. Every piece, from chief to warrior, has its own engine and gas tank in the base of the piece. All of these gas tanks are empty at the start of the game.

There are some special robots that have storage tanks in their heads, and a grey band around their storage tank. At the beginning of each turn, this grey band sucks gas right out of the air, and fills the storage tank in the 'head' of the piece. [The 'storage tank' is the 8-pointed star shaped area inside the grey band on the chief icon.] 

Each storage tank holds enough gas to fill 1 piece's gas tank, then it is empty until the beginning of the next turn. 

The grey band unfolds into a hose that reaches 3 squares [or the gas tank in that chief's base, allowing it to move itself unassisted], allowing gas to be pumped to any one piece within that 3 square range.

Each gas tank holds enough gas for 1 turn, then it's empty again.

A chief's gas tank can be filled by another chief's storage tank, allowing that first chief to carry its own storage tank load of gas with it. So it can then fuel something else 3 squares away from where it has just stopped.* 

Remember: each piece must gas up just before it moves, and then it must move immediately, or the gas evaporates. Gas cannot be saved up for a later turn.

*No, a chief cannot fill another chief's storage tank. A chief may only fill another piece's gas tank.