Hey, I'm fairly new to the Conclave and just recently got back into inquisitor, so apologies if this has been covered (though I couldn't find it by searching the forum).
If a character is attacking with a weapon in one hand (instead of a two-handed grip), does she receive the full strength bonus? In some parts of the rulebook, the strength of an arm is referred to, so it makes sense to use that arm's strength for working out the bonus, but in the "Damage from close combat & thrown weapons" section it states that an unarmed attack has a strength bonus. Since most unarmed attacks are from a single arm/fist/foot/etc., it suggests to me that someone swinging a sword one-handed would use her full strength for working out the damage bonus.
Thoughts?
I'd say it depends on the GM, although I'd allow full Strength to apply as there's more to Strength than just what your arms can do.
If I remember it correctly it is as Koval says, you get your full strength bonus. The specific arm strengths only come into account when you are lifting weapons and the like. We also used it when a character was dangling from a roof one handed.
I too treat it as full strength. Most of the attacks going on are single handed attacks and the exceptions on the weapons list are usually fairly apparent, usually either requiring extra strength to do their full (increased) damage or are reach 4.
It'd be pretty daft if characters had to be sporting S120 or more to ever see a strength bonus.
However, at least in my book, there are occasional exceptions - such as bionics. I only count bionic strength in circumstances where it would reasonably have an effect.
For example, Silva Birgen is a base S70, but has a S60 left arm. A right handed attack is therefore still S70, but a left handed one would be her full S95. Similarly, her knockback value is calculated from her base strength and so are her jumping distances.