I don't think you can make most of the people happy with this fighting combat system.
I would just suggest changing it to the traditional barbaric clobbering where the difference is the armor VS weapon,
gildable weapons for blue or red, green and yellow attacks VS gildable armor with increase resistance to blue, or red, or green or yellow. with chance for one or multiple resistances, same as the gilding system now for stats.
Quit the IP points since a battle lasting over 15 minutes is overkill or make them passive in a combat system where you have some finishers that cost IP and you get them while doing damage and fighting not just jumping around.
Opinions ?