The armour pieces/sets you can buy and find will give you various bonuses in different areas. Some will give you health bonuses, some will give weapon or headshot bonus damage, etc. There's a set of armour which increases melee damage.
You could probably do with a mixture of health/shield and melee bonuses.
EDIT: Found 'em for you.
Ariake Technologies armor increases your melee damage- you'll get almost a full bar with all four pieces.
Kassa Fabrication armor will give you a shield boost, along with shield regeneration.
N7 armor gives you a health boost.
[Edited by Skyheart, 3/16/2012 5:21:32 AM]
Thanks, but I'm going to need a lot more than what those armor pieces give to spend any significant time in melee.
Anyone know where to find the values for Shep's shields and health?
Or is it possible to edit the bonuses those armor pieces give? That would work too.