yeah, those faces were really good indicators in mm. its a good idea to include. and there sure are ways to display more subtle effects.
fear effect:
some positive combat effect like increase to hit:
and so on.
Hahaha, that would rock. You could make yourself a cyborg, and role play Robocop xD
that would rock so much. or make it (since its no sci-fi mix like might and magic) make it a human-golem thing. instead of metal skin perhaps stone skin. but a roboter would rock more.