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Our LFGS has a Border Patrol Tourny is coming up in 2 weeks and we really want to get the best experience for all the players. I've been put in charge of finding updated rules and I've been coming up with NOTHIN'! So I'd really appreciate your help in coming up with some good rules.

We've adapted the rules from an old White Dwarf and the test games we've had have been a lot of fun.
Here's what we've got so far:
1. You must choose an army of not more than 500 points.
2. The army must consist of at least 2 units and not more than 4 units.
3. You must have a single hero to lead the force, but the hero may not be an Army Battle Standard Bearer.
4. You must have at least one core choice.
5. You may take one choice of either Special OR Rare.
6. You must include at least one infantry unit of 10+ models.
7. No unit can be larger than 25 models.
8. No unit can carry a magic standard. No single model can be cost more than 125 points.
9. You may not have more than one chariot or machine (except for the Tomb Kings).
10. The Battlefield is 4x4 feet and terrain will be generated on 3d3 (1-2: Mysterious Forest, 3-4: Building, 5-6: Hill)
Army Specific Issues
Bretonnians do not have their Army Battle Standard Bearer.
Tomb Kings must have a Liche Priest as the hero. He will also act as the general. However, he can be up to 165 points. Tomb Kings can have more than one chariot.
Vampire Thrall may lead Vampire Count army.
No single Ogre model may cost more than 155 points. An Ogre Butcher may lead an Ogre Border Patrol force. An Ogre Kingdoms army must include at least one Core unit with a Unit Stength of 10+. A unit of Ogre Leadbelchers count as a single war machine.
Tzeentch and Nurgle Heralds are allowed to be purchased with up to 165 points. Exalted Heroes are allowed to be purchased with up to 160 points.
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Now, I've got some potential rules amendments from the experiences in the test games:

High Elves are allowed 1 more Special to a maximum of 2. Rare Choices are still limited to 1. (Just to give us Asur some varied tactics. Our core's kinda boring. But I might just be biased. :roll: Anyone comments?)

Warmachine attachments to units count as a Rare choice and does not contribute to Core limit. (I'm looking at you, Skaven! I don't know if you guys would agree, but if they take three groups of Clan Rats they have 3 warmachines on the field. Again, comments would be appreciated)

In the case that cheapest Hero does not fit Hero allowance (in the case of Ogre Kingdoms), the hero's spill-over points are deducted from the Special/Rare allowance. 25% core MUST be maintained. (With the new Ogre Kingdoms book being dropped now and having some issues with getting Tomb Kings a hero that doesn't fall apart, I don't know if this will solve or cause problems.)

Magic Phases will be done on 2d3 (Lots of players have been rallying for this, oddly the magically challenged races :? , but I don't think this is a good idea. With Miscasts being so horrifyingly devistating at these tiny point levels I think that's enough for people to be stingy with their power dice.)
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The aim of these games is to have nice quick games that are fun, uncomplicated to play and to have the guys with smaller armies play some games for a change. If it's a success we might turn it into an escalation league of some kinds, but we really need to have a good start.
What do you guys think? And comments or critiques are appreciated!

You must include at least one infantry unit of 10+ models.

I think this is prohibitive to some races. Ogres, even in the new edition are 30pts each. So you'd HAVE to have gnoblars, which is kind of annoying if they don't want them.

7. No unit can be larger than 25 models.

This is also prohibitive, esp. since you're forcing them to take them. It's like, "take some crap units, but not enough to make them un-crap."

9. You may not have more than one chariot or machine (except for the Tomb Kings).

Why? On all 3 accounts. Just make sure there's enough terrain.

Tomb Kings must have a Liche Priest as the hero. He will also act as the general. However, he can be up to 165 points. Tomb Kings can have more than one chariot.
No single Ogre model may cost more than 155 points. An A unit of Ogre Leadbelchers count as a single war machine.
Tzeentch and Nurgle Heralds are allowed to be purchased with up to 165 points. Exalted Heroes are allowed to be purchased with up to 160 points.

Why on all these? If you're going to set a point limit, set it. TZ and Nurgle cost base more cuz they're base better.

If you really want to get around all these caveats, say you can only have unit champions. Though that's pretty hardcore. But going through each army and saying what is worth 150 or 160 or 165 is going to never be a concrete solution. I say pick a value and stick to it. Why is a leadbelcher a war machine? It's already a rare/special, why penalize them twice?

In the case that cheapest Hero does not fit Hero allowance (in the case of Ogre Kingdoms), the hero's spill-over points are deducted from the Special/Rare allowance.

It's not their fault. Set the limit and if something can't fit at all, they get the cheapest, naked hero who can. It still takes from their point total. I can't think that's uber powerful enough to be penalized again.

I like weak magic in general. And remember, some guys got cheap 55ish point mages they can easily use. Since people aren't going to have disposable mages to dispel, the few who are led by mages will basically own the magic phase. Even casting magic missiles will wreck enemies, let alone buffs. And since there will be fewer enemy units/targets, a single debuff could end it. I guess since they are heroes they can only be +2.

I'd say in small point games like this, a lot of concern can be taken away by making terrain and objectives. Make it so you have to claim and hold something.

You must include at least one infantry unit of 10+ models.

This is going to FORCE ogres to take gnoblars, which some players (myself included) wouldn't like.

Then what would be a balanced restriction that would allow the newer guys a chance to compete without neutering Ogres completely?
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I've been thinking about this all day, and we could strip most of the rules down to:
1. 500 pts.
This is a small border skirmish, not World War 3.
2. 1 Special OR Rare.
The other Elite Units are too busy fighting World War 3 to do routine patrols.
3. No Lords. Heroes must be lowest possible cost. In case of overflow due to cheapest Hero being over the 25% limit, the overflow must be taken from Special/Rare allowance.
The "General" is garrisoned on the border would be inexperianced. If they were more valuble they'd be fighting elsewhere (like World War 3)
4. Battlefield will be 4x4 feet. d6 terrain. Terrain will be generated on a d3. (1-2: Mysterious Forest. 3-4: Building. 5-6: First Roll, Hill, subsequent rolls, Fences.)
The Border isn't anywhere important, no arcane mysteries or heretical sites of power here. Just a entryway into the interesting bits.
5. No Magical Banners. The General of the army may not be the Battle Standard Bearer.
There are not enough magical banners to go around for all the garrisons. So none of 'em get 'em. And the BSB can't hold a giant banner and yell orders. That's just too much multi-tasking for a new commander.
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Please, anyone who thinks they know better than me PLEASE give me some ideas. Special/Rare allowance.
The "General" is garrisoned on the border would be inexperianced. If they were more valuble they'd be fighting elsewhere (like World War 3)
4. Battlefield will be 4x4 feet. d6 terrain. Terrain will be generated on a d3. (1-2: Mysterious Forest. 3-4: Building. 5-6: First Roll, Hill, subsequent rolls, Fences.)
The Border isn't anywhere important, no arcane mysteries or heretical sites of power here. Just a entryway into the interesting bits.
5. No Magical Banners. The General of the army may not be the Battle Standard Bearer.
There are not enough magical banners to go around for all the garrisons. So none of 'em get 'em. And the BSB can't hold a giant banner and yell orders. That's just too much multi-tasking for a new commander.
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Please, anyone who thinks they know better than me PLEASE give me some ideas.

1) 500 points
2) No Lords. Heroes are 0-1. If you do not take a hero, than you must take a unit champ in a special or rare choice. He acts as your general. Heroes must be 120 points or less. If you don't have a 120 point option, you must take the special/rare unit champ route.
3) 1 Special or 1 Rare Choice
4) Must have 3 or more units
5) Battle field as you described.
6) Winds of Magic generate 2D3 dice, instead of 2D6.
7) No more than 1 magic item per army.
8) No single unit over 250 points.

Warmachines are already taken care of with the limits on specials and rares. Magic phase toned down some.

-Matt