Our plan right now is to zoom the camera out during combat. The exact plan isn't quite defined right now because it will depend on our funding level, but we've talked about stuff like either showing the party as portraits, or full 3D animated characters.
I like the combat in wizardries (phased) or Might and Magic (turn based) or even Eye of the Beholder 3 (real time with click on the monster for a default action not like grimrock).
I think the combat is fine for these kind of games I don't think there is a merit for innovation here. You are trying to fix a non-existent problem.
I think your mainly focus must be the story, immersion, atmosphere not combat.