I got an idea when I saw the GRID map. Idea is simple. We got 81 territory consisting of single letters. Create a word to gain a bonus. Hold for example territories with letters "E, P, M, L, X, A, E", which form the word EXAMPLE, and you get a bonus of 5 extra troops. Holding that letters, you can also create a word "EXAM", but it does not count as you already hold longest possible word. So when someone attacks you, need to take care which letter should he take, and think if remaining letters can still give you bonus as the new (this time shorter) word forms up.
Gameplay is straight, each letter can attack all neighbouring letters in all 8 directions.
The list of possible english words to create with 81 random letters is really long, so we should go for "the most used ones", and we could create another topic where users will just write words they want on the map.
Sharing the same letter in two words should not be possible. So holding only one "E" in the example above, would not give you the bonus for the word.
I've created an image of the map, see it and tell me what you think about idea...
To clarify attacking gameplay: if you hold the letters: P,E,N,C,I,L , you get a bonus for word "PENCIL", and if someone attacks you and wants to take your bonus, he MUST take the letter "P", because from the remaining letters you can't form a word. If he takes the letter "E", you still have the word "CLIP". If he takes the letter "C," you still get shortest bonus word "PEN". So lot of thinking must be done to properly play the map.
one more edit: Holding letters P,E,N,C,I,L,T you will get only bonus for word CLIENT, because of alphabet order. However, if someone takes the T letter from you, game forms you PENCIL and you still get the 6 letter word bonus.