by lee elektrik
If you do not use the secondary (grey) token, and no special turn-order variant is used, the only player who actually 'paid' for his place in turn order (and in his resulting privilege concerning the availability of techs), is the first player who passed the round before. All other players get their turn based on an 'arbitrary' rule (play proceeds clockwise from the starting player). Why complicate that? If everybody knows those rules, you can lay your plans accordingly, even if you are not the starting player.The only problem I see is that you should not be allowed to research with the secondary marker and the possible '(dis)advantage' you could gain due to faster or slower play of other players using the secondary marker.
I propose this: Primary and secondary marker need to be passed at the same time, i.e. both marker do not change their relative position. This fixes your place in 'actual' turn order in relation to all other players, as is the case in the base game.
Additionally, you are allowed to research with the secondary marker, but only after the player with the primary marker had the opportunity to do so.
Of course, if this variant would speed up play a lot in AP-pone groups is a question hard to fathom, in all other circumstances I have a feeling it would.