Duel Rules.

[Igiss]

Don't edit polls. It's a bad habit unless really needed. Better start a new one.

-Both sides have any number of members fighting.
-Both sides can have as many EXTRA mercenaries and allies as wanted.

Making the result of battle obvious before the start due to larger numbers of one of the sides.

-Last one with players still alive, including allies but not mercenaries, wins. Therefore, if a side's members are all killed 3 times, but still has a merc left, they lose.

I don't like the idea of separating into mercs/faction players, it's unneeded.

You may not go from fighter to capship.

This is the point that faction leaders should decide, as we here were unable to find a universal solution.

You may not go from capship to another capship.

This rule will lead to trouble: may not go to another capship means that you can go to same capship. More appropriate is "After capital ship is destroyed, player can switch to fighter and continue to participate in combat. Fighters can respawn, but total number of deaths (including capital ship destruction) may not exceed 3."
Or "Player can die no more than three times before leaving the battle. Using a capital ship is allowed only once for each player. When capital ship is destroyed, player is not allowed to respawn in the same capital ship or another capital ship."
Players who attempt to use capital ship twice or return to battle after 3rd death will cause immediate loss of the battle by the faction where they belong.

Battles - well, I'll try to repeat what I'm proposing.

Intrusion Battle Site

Takes place near jumphole from attacking system into defending system, inside the defending system.
Defenders respawn at the defending base (not necessarily the closest base), attackers respawn on a base in the attacking system.

If attackers fail the intrusion, the war is over, and faction leaders arrange new time to continue fights if attackers still wish to fight. If defenders lose, they withdraw to their defending base that attackers will need to assault.

Assault Battle Site

Takes place near a defending base inside the defending system.
Defenders respawn on the defending base. Attackers respawn on a base in the attacking system. Therefore defenders won't want to select a close respawn point for 1st battle.

If defenders fail to defend their base, the war is over, and system changes its owner. If defenders succeed in fighting back the assault, attackers are pushed back to intrusion point, and later battle continues there.

Once attackers lose intrusion battle, or defenders lose assault battle, the fight is over.