[torgian]

Then add a rule where pawns are limited to the middle rows of the board, amd/or reduce the amount of pawns

[galaxyLogic]

That would seem to work.

Another approach could be that yes you must fill the first two rows of your side initially, but players would take turns in doing that piece by piece. You would see how your opponent places their army piece by piece on their side and you would adjust your placements accordingly.