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I'm working on a variation of Arena of Death style rules and I'd like some input. Heres where I'm at:

Each match is 5 rounds fought inside an Arena of 2’x 2” difficult terrain. Single elimination. Contestants will begin each round in opposing corners. Each round ends when one contestant is reduced to 0 wounds or otherwise removed from play. The best of 5 rounds determines a victor. If a contestant is forced out or leaves the arena for any reason the round is forfeit. All normal 40k rules apply except as noted below.

Additional Rules:
 250 point limit. No special characters over 200 points.
 No greater daemons, walkers, or thunderwolf mounts. Chariots and dedicated transports are allowed.
 Additional models are permitted if wargear only, i.e. fenrisian wolves, drones etc. No summoned or generated units.
 Maximum of 6 ranged shots total. Any additional shots beyond 6 will be lost.
 No limit on Relics however all choices must still be legal, i.e. a model must have gear to replace where required, single codex only. Models may replace their bikes ranged weapon.
 DoC heralds may instead take 70 points of gifts OR 50 points of gifts plus a daemonic steed.
 All randomly generated gear, psychic powers etc will remain set for the duration of a match.
 Costs for the following options are in addition: jump pack/wings +20 pts; daemonic steed/bike +30 pts.
 Instant Death/strength D will instead remove 2 wounds.
 Invisibility will instead reduce WS and BS to 1.
 All save re-rolls in excess of 4+ will be reduced to 4+.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Why permit Daemonic Steeds but ban Thunderwolves?

The main reason is power level. TWM confers S10 among other things. I'd like to keep that to inherent only, i.e. ork warbosses, smash and hammerhand. Also a daemonic mount really just brings a herald into lord territory with 3 wounds. I'm open to suggestions here though.

The main idea is to keep mounts/bikes out of no brainer territory since they add so much over foot slogging. Note that the 'taxes' tend to effect the more powerful books more. Or at least that's the intent.

I ask about Daemonic Steeds in CSM more so than in Daemons. If you're planning on keeping mounts/bikes out of no-brainer territory I'd suggest just requiring folks to stay on foot; there are a lot of characters for whom there's no good reason not to be on a bike, even if you pump the cost.

That is true and something I've considered. In fact it's probably the accepted solution. However if possible I'd rather there be some variety so the tax is trying to force decisions between relics/wargear and the benefits of a bike for example. Harder for some then others of course depending on the value of other options.

You think this won't work? Or is there another way?

Also try making a character under these rules if you feel inclined. I feel it's decently dialed in although there's a couple dexes that just can't be made good here no matter what you do.

Accept the inevitable and rebrand it as The Jousting Game?

Haha nah that's not an option.

Specific issues:

AM, MT, Sororitas: Your T3 powerfist isn't going to live long enough to swing. If you take anything that isn't a powerfist you're I3/4 and won't live long enough to swing anyway.

Daemons: Restrict them to Heralds, they lose. Let them have Flying Daemon Princes, they win.

CSM: T6 Nurgle Bike Lord? Problem.

IK: They can't play. Good riddance.

'Nids: Stick them with Primes, they lose. Let them have Hive Tyrants, they win.

So if you want a Space Marine/Eldar/Tau fight you might have a game, if you want to include any other armies you're going to have more trouble. This isn't WHFB, not everyone's characters are designed for stand-up straight fights with everyone else's characters.

Yea the first 3 can't be helped foot slogging or no. How does making everyone fight on foot fix what you mentioned? AoD is really only suited to certain factions. It's those I'm wanting to open up and equalize.

Daemons and nids are not quite that simple. I dont want to ban MCs. Note that difficult terrain makes they're first assault init 1. 6 shot limit equalizes tl devourer- blw with lash and tau etc. T5-6 MCs with 3+ saves aren't any better at that point than a tooled up CM and probably worse. CSM bikers are kinda their best build but for reasons. That's fine. My intent is a 50-60 pt bike/steed is a lot less compulsory than a 20 pt one.