It is a minor improvement of combat based on games that were played in the late 90's . It has been expanded to become closer to a game from the year 2006. and also used an identical system Dark And Darker Gold.
Personally, i am shocked by the backlash, considering that as far as changes go, everything included in the document's detail section could be mechanically already present in the game in another format or is a quality of life alteration.
All of this could be implemented with only minor adjustments to help combat. These changes would enhance the long-term viability and replayability of the game. This in fact to the advantage to the players.
You are trying to fix the fight incorrectly
In a nutshell, let's add overpowered blocking and parrying so any attacker who is first to attack is likely to lose.
I believe that you're trying fixing the fight in a wrong manner.
An alternative is to make every class have greater HP. Barbs shouldn't get more than 25% more HP than the base kit.
Either give barbs accessibility to armors with high HP that cannot be obtained from other classes, or give them the ability of leveling up to become high HP target instead of being one right from the start.
Combat's simplicity must remain Dark And Darker Gold for sale, and that's why game hooked me at the first time. If I were looking for a chivalry/mordhau-style combat I'd go play chilalry/mordhau . I just don't like these games.