All right. For the past five minutes I've been theorizing a duel system for the game. Because I love a good duel, but the only one I've found anywhere - in Player's Option: Combat & Tactics - is incredibly shit.
Here's what I've got so far: rounds aren't counted in minutes, or even in segments, but in -fractions of seconds-. Even swinging your weapon takes several rounds: maybe around as many as the weapon's speed factor, during which you're helpless. Then the weapon's speed factor again before you've gotten completely over the swing and can do something else again.
If you get multiple attacks, then your speed is divided by your amount of attacks. So if you've got a battle axe (speed factor 7), and you get to attack 3/2 times with it, then your final speed with the weapon is 5.
Naturally, you should be able to react to things: dodge or block during the former, then attack yourself during the latter part. Blocking, dodging, flanking, all these things take a few rounds too - but you have to time it right.
Both you and your opponent will privately decide how many "rounds" they wait before attacking.
Go too early (maybe before half the weapon speed, rounded up) and the enemy can cancel their attack and be prepared. Go too late and you end up getting hit. There should be some partially-random way to decide at which "round" you act: the higher your level is, especially as a fighter, the better you can do it.
If you can completely pinpoint the timing when the strike comes through, you can parry-riposte.
I dunno, so far I've just been rambling and spitballing. Am I on to something here, though? And if so, could you help me to form it into something coherent?