@chrisamaphonechris martens "at the start of play each player designates which piece is their checkmateable one, and which pieces will divulge that information to your opponent upon capture; captured pieces can be converted to your side in inverse proportion to their power and distance from start", and so on with hidden information mechanics until you have something like Confusion https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2961/confusion-espionage-and-deception-in-the-cold-war (which admittedly adds the rather brilliant "you start not knowing what your own pieces do" twist)