That's not a bad idea, I will give it a try in my next game!

I don't have a problem with that part, and as you suggested, I will focus on the area where that certain collectible are bound to show up.

One really tricky place is actually *under* the kids. I found a rare coral underneath a bunch of kids building sandcastles. That's something to watch out for if you have a lot of kids.

It does get harder finding collectibles, the bigger the population is in the village. You can also get clumps of people by the waterfalls hiding turtle shells.
I've got 2 tribes going at the moment - one science and one magic tribe, and I completed the turtle shell collection in one tribe yesterday which is my first ever complete collection! My most frustrating moment was getting the chief in my science tribe to point out a rare collectible - and she obligingly pointed out a coral that I didn't have - only to discover that the one child in the village had just turned 14 so wasn't able to pick it up.
I'm always careful to check that I have at least one eligible child now...

I had that happen today! The ONE rare feather I don't have! The LAST one! "Pick it up. Pick it up, I said, dang you. What's wrong with you? Do I have to smack you? I said pick it . . . . . . . . . . fourteen?"

Thanks, LadyCFII, that's one reason I don't increase the population beyond 35!
It's the slim tapered feathers that I personally have trouble with.

I don't normally like large populations, either, but I'm doing something "special" with a tribe that has 53 kids in it.

I didn't think we were allowed to post those blinking icons????
I'm sorry, Lurkily, in my opinion, they're a visual menace to look at!

I like those blinking icons, Lurkily. And that sucks about the 14-year old for both you and cjw. I wonder if the developers knew that finishing the collectibles could be so frustrating for some. Maybe in VV4, they will not have them appear under kids, behind trees, and behind villagers huddled at the waterfall. Maybe they will also make the Chief point out a missing collectible and not just a random rare. Then again, maybe I'm dreaming...

i think that you posted that picture in the wrong thread

well all i need is 2 rare coralks and 1 rare feather but they NEVER appear, no matter what!