Main Body Front Page

I cant seem to make the feature article do what I want in the front page I want 3 columbs across with 20 articles and 1 leading .. but if I change the config nothing happens just a few articles under each other. if I disable the mainbody on the setting of the template it still comes up .. what am I doing wrong?

Hummm nobody seems to response ... I am using joomla 1.7 please somebody help this is urgent!!!