A ddc-type condition beyond the K\"ahler realm

This paper introduces a generalization of the ddc-condition for complex manifolds. Like the dd^c-condition, it admits a diverse collection of characterizations, and is hereditary under various geometric constructions. Most notably, it is an open property with respect to small deformations. The condition is satisfied by a wide range of complex manifolds including all compact complex surfaces, and all compact Vaisman manifolds. We show there are computable invariants of a real homotopy type which in many cases prohibit it from containing any complex manifold satisfying such ddc-type conditions in low degrees. This gives rise to numerous examples of almost complex manifolds which cannot be homotopy equivalent to any of these complex manifolds.