IMO Player health/armor is where the game suffers the most

TL;DR changes in Space Marine 2 to player health/armor would have a significant impact in shifting the gameplay focus from the defensive mindset 'kill to survive' to the offensive 'just kill'.

Gameplay is fun. This game has a realy solid loop with a killer setting, top-notch visuals, sound design, and animations. Clearing minoris, timing attacks and parries for majoris, balancing the two for mixed groups, extremis minibosses; all a good time and greath rhythm to be had. However, the game becomes a drag and the rhythm interrupted when trying to do those things with a just a sliver of life left. Even with the other problems in the game, scraping by with no hp and desparately looking for armor points is what kills all momentum for me. The marines feel dummy fragile.

This leads to spamming gunstrikes, farming executions, spamming dodge rolls to create distance, and other, what feel to me, gimicky strategies, all just to not get immediately downed and try to regain some meager armor points while minoris and ranged attacks drain armor as fast you gain it. I must confess I am a more casual player (I usually play substantial, occasionally ruthless), have not tried the new lethal, and maybe all of this is just a 'skill issue', but from what I gather, among more experienced players these strategies are basically essential.

This game really shines when the focus is offense. Engagements can feel like a complex and drawn-out combo, gaining momentum and moving from enemy to enemy and group to group. Suddenly all your health and armor gets melted by a few ranged units and your combo rhythm switches to desparately trying to keep your head above water. I don't know if anyone enjoys this aspect. The sudden switch to defense and survival blows hard.

Right now, 'how do I kill enough to survive' feels like the main focus in long-term engagements, as opposed to just 'how do I kill as much as possible'. Obviously health management and avoiding damage are a part of the game's challenge design but having to play defensively and sparingly is like the exact opposite of what space marines do.

Tweaks to health/armor system would address this.