Well, it's still worth considering. I think it would be best to block any drops from immediate checkmate, and the bishop or cannon could do that assuming the king or ramshead haven't moved. I think shrinking the board is better too, so here's my next proposal.

P
N
S
Gs
-
L
-
SC
RS
K

It makes the board a bit smaller, nearly every piece can move in the beginning (minus the king and silver), and those that aren't are quickly available to move. There is some space for maneuvering, and no threat of an instant checkmate when holding the right piece early in the game. Tell me what you think. We could probably still play our game at the past setup without too much difficulty, but we should play the next something closer to this.