[thenickwinder]

here are a few ideas as to how the battle could actually work

you could do numbers, just equiptment and level based, like for level 1 you get 1 point and for level 2 you get 2 points.
and then for quality of swords and armour, etc. you got point numbers, and then battle based on those number totals.

That system is easy to make, but not the highest quality ever. But I think that that would do, unless you know of a better way, that is.

another way could be like the ealry battle systems for games like Betrayal at Cronder.

How they did was weapon based power, and then 2-3 diff types of swings, the next higher type does more damage but has a lower hit rate, and then resistance to that could be divided by the armour the opponet is wearing or something...

this are just some simple math based ways to do it

i am sure you have thought of those, but just some ideas

btw, I do own my vb