Sandoz: Thank you, just modified the rules though :)

I can't believe you would go for two bombs though :) In this case I would choose 2x5, 2x4, 2x3, 2x2, 2xRecon and game over :)

SL-Mark: well, with your setup you would probabely loose our game, hehe

Sandoz: But I don't need to capture your base to win, only all your pieces and as I am two pieces up at the start, easy game :) Perhaps we could try it, firstly sacrifice the unwanted pieces at the start so we are left with our chosen pieces, then game on!

SL-Mark: I would simply try to trade one of my 4 + sab against one of your 5ers. And then: I'm king of the board!

Sandoz: Yes, but you don't know that I have no sabs and your single recon would be gone in a flash, without having even detected my 5s :)

Unless we have another rule modification, winner must capture base to win, if this cannot be achieved then game is a draw.

SL-Mark: in that case, it should allways be a 2-game-match. This makes it more interesting from the choosing-point of view.

Different idea: how about a 3-games-match with a fixed set of pieces you choose from in game no 1 and no 2. The third game then is an all-in game (all remaining pieces have to be placed on the board) ?

If the set of pieces is not fixed, but you may choose some of them, I'm afraid it will give two problems:
1) the strategy would not change much, because you don't know the set choosen by your opponent.
2) the uncertainty given by the unknown opponent's pieces would lead to a more difensive and slow game

The most important thing for me in a new variant is a higher speed of the game.

dAGGER:
1. Yes, I agree with this and was also a concern for Sandoz. But the 3 game match would change this considerably.
2. I think these games would actually play faster, though there are now 3 matches in the game.

As you want speed, another idea, what about atomic sabotage (similar to atomic chess)? Or even extinction sabotage (again similar to extinction chess)

SL-Mark:
I never played Extinction or Atomic chess. I just read the rules and I think we can apply both variant to Espionage with success!
They both comply with "my requests" for the new variant: higher speed and different strategy.

Sandoz: I like the 3 game idea, though for games 1 & 2, white may still choose how many pieces to place, between a max & min, hence ensuring always at least a piece for game 3. (Don't get left with only bombs to place in game 3 :D )

SL-Mark: yes, and don't waste all your big guys in the first round! :)

Sandoz: Thank you, I will keep that in mind

Rule modification only applies if you think it a good addition.