IRL, knights and such didn't wash for days, all the while sweating and fighting and pooping their mail pants.
The way you can have people standing real close to each other in cRPG and not faint/take damage/get stunned is TOTALLY UNREALISTIC!
My suggestion: the more your characters swings a heavy weapon, the larger the area around him, that others get stunned/take damage. This should also depend on the weight of the armor. Also, bonus/rears against horses!
Discuss!