male, from what i can gather your idea sounds very interesting, but im not sure i fully understand it. will the heroes be paired off? so that if an eldar hero spawns in one territory/zone, will an opposing hero (either chaos or orks) spawn in the same location, and vice versa? or will the heroes spawn in totally random zones, sometimes the same zone, sometimes in adjacent zones, sometimes completely remote zones? the zones with one hero would be fairly one-sided, perhaps that's your point.
All things being equal, Heroes should spawn completely randomly, though you could have know racial enemies slightly skew the spawn percentage for that zone, just to make it interesting. You could also have certain zones slightly skew the spawn percentage for opposing Heroes. Theres alot of variables that could be added for flavors sake.
and also a spin on your idea, even though i don't fully understand it, perhaps if a hero survives long enough in a zone they claim it, and from there they can move to capture an adjacent zone, with a stronger force, seeing as they have friendly territory to their backs, and they have resupplied? would be intense, because if a hero is unchallenged and gains momentum, it would require much more to stop him/her. I would also like to see a high level of AI in the heroes, not in the sense of battle mechanics but how they act in a strategic sense. If a hero spawns in the back of enemy territory, it would be nice to see him try and strike important targets of the enemy, and even have him move around enemy territory without capturing a zone, so as to sabotage and keep the enemy wary. i hate AI that just mopes around being retarded. the zone map should be a chessboard. I agree, though I'm trying to stear clear of a zone capture mechanic, if your faction lets enemy Heroes set up shop in a given zone unopposed, those Heros should become a major player within that zone. The server could also gradually adjust the chances of opposition Heroes spawning in the zone over time heat things up. While the Hero camp would be the focus of the zone, the Hero should definitely be sending out roaming sorties of NPC's to make his influence felt across the entire zone.

Then wouldn't the areas with the hero always favor that side? Sure, more of the opposing force (lets say destruction) would come to combat the hero, but then more order come to kill the dest. the only place it seems the battle would be fair would be an area without a hero, but that is likely to get little attention because of the same reason, it has no hero. please correct me if I'm not making sense, I feel like i am thoroughly confusing myself.

I think we should look at DAoC. There should be a huge warzone with tactical control points to capture. Guilds/Chapters/Units can claim them on capture and the longer they hold them the more "logistical points" are accrued that guilds can use to purchase guild advantages. There should be plenty of opportunity for open pvp in such an area. Then have the closed pve areas for those types of players. Also, have instanced SQD v. SQD pvp with individual and guild rankings.. this satisfies the small unit types. Have the SQD v. SQD give tremendous ammounts of "logistical points" to motivate people. Also, some sort of currency should be used to be able to upgrade tactical control points... add defensive units or positions and fortifications.

As far as the hero thing... each tactical control point can be commanded by a certain hero when differing factions hold it. Zones can have lesser heroes on patrol.