To bring the topic slightly back to Warband, I think a complete overhaul in combat would be needed. Just adding stamina wouldn't work too well. Adding more diverse and "balanced" weapon feels (weight, speed, etc..) would be a nice starting point. Then just more ways of attacking and defending. Maybe implement a some sort of bind system.
Like, you attack to his swing, like doing a chamber, but instead of directly attacking, you can keep pressure on the blade while stabbing for example. (You could do this by pressing and holding block right after your blades touch.) And the counter to this wouldn't be a block, as you are partly "controlling" his blade, but either kick the opponent further,or moving away. Both of these would stun a bit and give the other guy a chance of making a quick hit on you.
If he fails, you just hit him through the bind. And then the fight would continue normally.
That's kind of just a harder/powerful version of chamber, but I think the game needs more mechanics like these.
Yeah, I know, this too is
off- on-topic.