how this sound?

stock match 3 lives
damage meters turned off (so u dont' know how much damage u take)
and no items

this way the amount of damage one person has doesn't affect the field of battle (no ganging up on the hurt guy)

no items means u don't get real lucky and get an item that inevitably changes the tide (battles are based on skill not luck...ok maby a little luck but not as much)

and 3 lives cause lets face it u need chances but not that many chances
(5 stock takes forever -.-)