Just some advice before the open beta.

1) No fame,ducats and injury for match between friends. (arranged match)
2) Ranked Match at FIXED 400,600,800 AP. (You select one OR more of those option before click PLAY)
3) Training match at variable AP value that give half fame, ducats than ranked match. (You just select the MAX AP value and adjust your list)
4) Separate ranking for army and players
5) Elo for Ranking, not points

1,3,4 - sems fine
5 - I need more info

2) Ranked Match at FIXED 400,600,800 AP. (You select one OR more of those option before click PLAY)

600 or 800 - higher formats take to long especialy when Acheron is involved. Long games will simply dishearten new players.

So imo
200 300 400 600
or
200 300 400 800

maybe 200 should have fame reduced to 50-70% to encourage players to bigger formats.

about the format: 200 seems a must for everyone who starts the game...UNLESS they make the initial comps by default at 250+ AP points. Right now 4 different brackets is a bit too much and the game gets interesting at 400. Rewards should also increase/decrease depending on the AP used (as the training missions actually).

I would use just three brackets and use 300 500 800. Games at 200 even if done for beginners do not show much of the game potential and tactical aspect (im looking at you wolven starting warband with 2 units )

when the open beta ?

when the open beta ?

unless they changed the plans, this wednesday as Jolly Roger said somewhere (also steam has this date)

About Elo. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elo_rating_system

I think that ppl could play training match (match where using matchmaking you can lvup your unit, get some fame ducats etc...) at many different AP level BUT Ranked match need to be standarized a bit. 400 or 600 or 800, two value is fine imo. 400 and 800 are two different level of play but could be set for ranked match.
This would help to understand mechanics of army at different level. (for example an army could be strong at 400 but not at 800 etc...)

Also balance is easy when you have a standard format. It also help balance mission. For example a deathmatch at 400AP could have a 12turn limit while a 800 could have 16 turn or more etc...
So every mission could be balanced for dirrerent RANKED match.

The key to have good RANK is to have good standard rules that need to focus on few AP army size.

This will improve the overall Ranked experience but still let a lot of liberty for training match.

Games at 200 even if done for beginners do not show much of the game potential and tactical aspect (im looking at you wolven starting warband with 2 units )

or 4 Fangs/Crossbowmans* ;]

*but i hope that crossbows will be back to 0.10 with minor nerf of -1 MOV/STR

edit
i was convinced that current points are counted in a way similar to ELO