Hey ! I made a very long suggestion about lots of ideas about combat mechanics. Like someone suggested, I decided to cut it into numerous little suggestions so people can read what interest them, and can vote / downvote what they like / don't like in my ideas more accurately.
You can see the whole suggestion here with more explanation and all..
http://lifeisfeudal.com/discussions/question/better-combat-mechanics
Weapon uses : You could add some "flags" to every weapons, so they can make other players fall to the ground (axes, billhooks), so they break shields easier.. medieval weapons are not only a mix between reach, damage and speed.. they are mainly a tool for making foes fall, bleed.. all sorts of nice things ! Of course, for example, to make another player fall, you would have to hit them with a fully charged it in the back of the legs, and things like that. For now, everyone is using the war scythe. Why ? Because it is one of the longest weapons, very high damage, and decently fast. It should have drawbacks like a smaller hitbox, very easy to break whe you try to parry with it or get parried with it..