I was thinking that ruins or threes usage could be slightly expanded.
My thoughts were, as these elements are anyway represented in 3D as units are:
1. Ruins and threes - as elements that could potentially been picked up and thrown away by Herakles - could be considered as units when counting the elements on an area.
2. The thrown ruins/three would remain on its new landing area (and fill in space as a unit does) and counted as filling one space.
3. It would still block view as it normally does.
4. Power to throw elements could be given to some gigantic units (such as titans). Herakles would remain the only hero with that power.
This could add a little bit of tactic by blocking view and by reducing the maximum number of troops/units on specific targeted areas.
You could even imagine piling them to block/unblock some area (at a huge Art of War cost of course) in specific scenarii.
Anyway... just thoughts, need to test that