Why not give them a really simple change? Females get blond beards, males get black or brown ones? <_< they have the same tile, remain dwarfy, and require very little changes beyond the paint bucket
quick and easy!
edit: also, I know we have more than just the current military ranks present on the noble's thingy >.>;
Champion, General, Captain, and Lieutenant are confirmed. Along with Militia Captain (difference between Militia Captain and normal captain? I have no idea)
edit2: Also, always wondered about this. Could there be a different tile for when dwarves are experiencing one of the various problems? Rather than a question mark or an exclamation mark, could they perhaps flash a dwarf of the appropriate type? Since we have a Drunk Dwarf Model I always thought that would be interesting.
edit3: Basically, there'd be one for berserk, melancholy, traumatized, and stark raving mad, (all should be linked by odd eyes and frazzled hair and beard), then there would be the ones for strange moods: Fey, Secretive, Possessed, Fell, and Macabre.
Then, in order of importance for flashing icons...
Unconscious
Major Injury/Minor Injury
Tantrum
Hungry/Thirsty/Drowsy/Unhappy
Enraged/Martial Trance
Stunned/Winded/Nausea/Paralyzed (technically these could go along with Unconscious)
Wrestling
Sleeping
No Job/No Destination
Migrant/Legendary (For Legendary, I'd say just give them a halo or glowing golden eyes
)
The Multiple creatures flashing icon really isn't that necessary >_>;
Non Flashing Icons, possibly should go before even the flashing ones, also in order of importance.
Dead
Drowning
Prone
Webbed
Airborn
Last Seen(not necessary, adventure mode only)
http://df.magmawiki.com/index.php/Status_iconsfor status Icons currently available look there ^^
edit4: Alternatively, ya could just wait until Toady implements a system that would let you make those little Corner Icons (like the ones you wanted to use to identify civilian from military from foe), and have these suckers in the opposite corner from that identifying mark
but really, at least the insanities and the moods should have their own icons :3
edit35: Then again >_>; that's 35 separate tiles... sooooo while cool, I'd place it as a far lower objective than figuring out the rest ^^;