Was there ever a build of the game where specialist types were unknown until met in combat (similar to Stratego's reveal) or seen with something like a spy specialist? It's something I've been thinking a lot about while playing, was curious if it had come up before.

we use to have an "illusionist" that concealed the type of specialists and # of drillers present at his location.

any time someone got an illusionist it became a bluffing game instead of a strategy / diplomacy game. nobody attacks an illusionist, and people rarely defended against him with anything but drillers. he just didn't fit well into the style of game that subterfuge is.