Come on guys! We can do better than this.
This is a ranged weapon max as opposed to a melee weapon max.
First level Fighter. Max 240 GP.
Hires 1200 Mercenaries for the day. Gives each of them a free club.
Each of them can do 12 points of damage with a critical by throwing the club. The Fighter can do this as well.
Max damage per round =
14,412 points of damage
Granted, only a max of 248 mercaneries can attack a given medium foe (assuming they surround him and none are within 10 feet for AoOs, but all are within 50 feet).
Average damage per round per surrounded foe (assuming a high AC opponent where a 20 is needed to hit) = 78.12
Average damage per round per surrounded foe (assuming a high AC opponent where a 20 is needed and DR 5 of the foe) = 16.12
Instant sushi of anyone who comes close.
Melee weapons. Hire 19 Orc Mercenaries with 22 Str each. Give 8 of them clubs. Give the Fighter, also an Orc with 22 Str, and the other 11 Mercenaries Longspears.
8 Mercenaries run up and surround foe, each doing 24 points of damage on a critical.
Everyone else attacks with a Longspear from 10 feet away for 42 points of damage.
They all Power Attack.
8 * 26 + 12 * 45 =
748 points of damage.
(And yes, the Fighter could be a Cleric, Enlarge himself, attack from 15 feet away, get another mercenary, yadda, yadda, yadda)
Ok, all of this breaks OPs new rule #4, but it is core.