Swarm Movement problem

Use big hexes and use numbers (or colors) to define the size of each cube, ie. 1 red cube equals 10 swarm and 1 purple cube equals 50 swarm.

Also, if you use big hexes (I was thinking that instead of hexes you use area for you map a'la Risk) then moving say 4 red swarm and 2 purple swarm would equal 140 total swarm. the cubes would also all fit into the hex and filling it greatly giving the impression that there is more going on.

When I look at Pandemic and that board starts filling up, I feel the tension. You say there are not alot of them. I can't imagine the scale of your game if you are thinking you need more cubes on a board than a 6 epidemica card Pandemic game.

Quick thought: Do not move the middle-cubes. Put cubes from the back directly in the front (assuming all cubes are equal). Some rules might apply, like every empty field connected with 3 cubes facing north will get a cube, pick from the end of the line.
With moving a small number cubes every move you still get the swarm idea.

Is this swarm growing as it moves? Starting at a set location on the board? How are the players interacting with it? are they just trying to direct its path, are they trying to kill it/stop it? Do the players have pieces on the board. What sort of game are you trying to set up? That is perhaps the question that should be answered first.

Lots of people get caught up with this, "hey look at this neat thing my game is going to do" kind of idea. And focus only on that one neat thing. anyhow..

I am interested to see where this goes.