I'm loving the dockfights idea chaps.
Although the Armsmaster is perhaps a little dated now and it couldn't really accomodate mages it was still a huge success over the years and I think people enjoyed the fact that armour, weapons and healing aids were balanced which meant that even a lowly Recruit with a little luck could defeat the mighty Commander
*shifty eyes* as we saw in the last competition.
I don't know if trying to balance things out for entrants would be possible in an all comers event but it might be something to ponder when planning it to make it more appealing to newer members coming up against veterans decked out in the finest armour and weapons money can buy etc. etc.
I hope you chaps get it off the ground. You don't always need massive numbers for it to be an initial success, so don't let that put you off from having a go. Once you've got it going the numbers will come as long as it's fun and reported and advertised well.
*thumbs up*