Originally posted by BlauK
I dont think it would become a country, because there would likely be pawns in every country... only a bit more in one than in others. The pawns would also fight against each other when tehy are in defferetn countries.
Actually, that would be a big reason for NOT showing a different pawn icon, at least to the enemies. It might develop some complicated situatiosn when green and red pawns meet among other reds and greens... they might even dodge fighting each other.... or would they be more attracted to fight each other than the other enemies? Who knows 
Actually, the Pawn Icon thing shouldn't be hard to program at all.
When a Pawn is on your country's side, you would see their Pawn icon so you know they aren't a "regular" on your country, and that they might disappear later. It would/could/should have a different, fourth, color so that it isn't confused with your other countrymen (and likely squadmates). I'm green, flying with a couple of blue pawns on my side. Everyone else is red.
The other two countries, just see a red icon, same as they see everybody else that isn't in their country. We don't see "orange-colored" Knight icons and "green-colored" Rook icons in the fight, we just see green and red, friendly and foe.
Technically, it is as simple as assigning a secondary country code to the Pawn, and the secondary country code is the country to which it is assigned for that hour. When the program is determining what color to show on the screen, and what icon to put with it, it would look at the secondary country code, not the primary. That way, it would still "act" like a member of the three countries for icon purposes, but they would be switched as balancing requires, thus reassigning the secondary country code and thus, their colors/icons.
Pawns could never enter the arena without being assigned to a country, as they have to have the secondary country field filled for programming purposes.
A Pawn cap in the arena should be considered. If you are normally signed up as a Bishop, you can still switch countries, just as you always have been able to do. You would still be limited to waiting an hour to switch back. However, as a Pawn, you would not have that option...you only move where "The Great Cod" moves you, you cannot choose to switch. (same as if you were being paid as mercenary - you fight where you are paid to fight) Adding the Pawn cap to the arena would force people to weigh out whether or not they really want to be a Pawn, rather than just being indecisive about the choice.
Perhaps you could even choose whether to go into the arena as an assigned countryman or as a Pawn. Once you enter, you have to log out to re-enter the arena as the other choice. Maybe your perk points are low and you need a good hour of furballing to bring it up - so you log out and re-join as a pawn, since you know you'll always end up on the outnumbered side and will get many chances to win points.
Just a couple of ideas, but I think the Pawn idea has merit.
BUT, one change at a time. Let's figure out where it fits in the "grand scheme" of the arena's we are currently sorting out.
