The map exists of hexagon tiles. (Same size, shape, general idea as the Catan board.)
On their edges / corners are small empty spaces, perfect for placing tokens.
- When you combine 2 hexagons, their long edge would be complete and allow a long rectangle token.
- When you combine 3 hexagons, that point would now look like a triangle space, allowing a triangle token.
As the game progresses,
- Players expand the map with the big hexagons.
- While trying to claim the right spots (with their tokens in the right orientation) that appear between them.
Basically Catan, but with just a small set of tiles (nothing else), and hopefully way more variety and deep strategy.
This is somewhat similar to my Elephant Lands idea, but advanced in a way that needs no randomly generated boards or weird elephant tokens trickery.