I have no idea if it is even technically possible, since i have seen the following suggestion many times:
Add stamina to the game.
Weapon weight, total weight, ammount of agility/athletics ( or new skill ) could affect stamina use/regeneration. Holding block = very little stamina regeneration, lets say 20%. Running/moving = no stamina regeneration ( or even light drain ), with a 0.5 sec delay. So you can run and block forever, but you will not run, block and kill forever.
It would: add a new dimention to the tactics, balance plated peasant spammers ( like me, hehe. My first 2h char - Whack_a_Mole, is doing ok, or at least better then he should, even though he is lvl 23 and I have NEVER used manual block before... I suck, and find myself spamming shamelessly often. ) and create a more team orientated gameplay.
Will be less backpaddling spammers , archers and Forest Gump peasants. A more "natural" combat might accure - shield users in the 1st line ( to drain enemies stamina ), 2h/Polearm in the 2nd line. Holding a line might became a legit and naturally useful tactics for both sides ( as it should ). Even peasants might find them a lucky moment of Glory, and kill an armored guy, who can only block and run. And so on...
How does every ( or at least 9/10 times ) 1 vs More then 1 engagements look like?`That's right guys! Backpedal and Spam or Backpedal and Turtle. Stamina would make battlefield look more like a battlefield ( it would be good not because of realism in itself. "realism" comes when you take in-game decisions, based on real life experience/expectations. 1h, Shield, 2h, Polearms, and so on, were used not because it was a "class", but because they served a purpose. )
I will shut up now. Post getting too long and boring.
Well, i might be just dreaming, and reality will be - a totally boring and broken combat. But somehow it sounds rigth to me, when i play it in my head.
Btw 653 hours of cRPG played so far - doesn't mean i have something good to say, but at least i gave it some more thought then "first time impressions" of a new player.
On combat balance/upkeep: Its all good ( I got used to it now more or less, or adapted )
EDIT:
"Stamina" can be just a Power Strike/Draw/Throw, that is getting smaller, after Weight x Number of attacks/second. That is, if its not possible to do it the other way. Just a quick idea.