People here have been a bit lazy latly, gfroce is the only guy going crazy with hacks.
Anyways, I would start by making a new style for this system, so you can make specific template modifications, that would really help towards the end result.
I hear you are pretty good with php

So you should be able to compile a script to recognize certain words, and at the beginning the user who starts the battle will be able to select the participants...
Hmm..this seems like a good idea, I run a graphics community, maybe I will make this for my board, and if it works our give it to you.