Let me explain my question:
I have been hoping to build a Beorn character that is quite high in the body attribute (backgrounds allowing 7 or 6 in body to begin). The struggle however is that doing so is often paired with a really low wits score (the option for 7 body is paired with 2 wits!). Because attacking is skill based, not attribute based, the character's likelihood of scoring a successful hit doesn't depend on these scores. The likelihood of avoiding attacks, however, does look to these scores (using wits, obviously).
Now body does factor into combat, even without spending hope, in that it adds increased damage on a great/extraordinary success. By my math this happens 16.7% of the time with 1 skill point in the weapon, 30.6% of the time with 2 skill points, 42.1% of the time with 3 skill points, 51.8% of the time with 4 skill points... increasing. This makes an unreasonable assumption that every roll hits, but the math is a nightmare without it
So by this standard, purely as far as combat is concerned: +1 parry (1 wits) = +1/2 damage (1 body). And that only becomes true once you have 4 skill points in that particular weapon. At character creation, even with your most skilled weapon, this would actually only be +1 parry = +1/3 damage.
Viewed through that lense, wits clearly seems more of an asset to combat than body would be. Other sections of the rules seem to reinforce this idea as parry is demonstrated to be more valuable than damage. Let me illustrate that with examples rather than just stating it blindly.
Quality weapons (Rewards from increased levels of Valor): For the same price, one has presumably equally enticing options. Listed amongst these are a Reinforced shield (+1 parry, can't be smashed) and Grievous weapon (+2 damage). By this pairing, +1 parry (with smash immunity) = +2 damage.
2-Handed weapons or "Sword n' Board": In this example, for balance on would presumably find equally enticing reasons for each option. One could opt for a one-handed weapon and a shield, gaining the benefit of up to +3 Parry, but with added encumbrance. The presumably equal option would be forgoing the shield for a two handed weapon that does +3-4 damage (I excluded the weapons that could be 1 or 2 handed, as versatility accounts for the lower damage bonus). Not only does this second option add damage, but it increases the probability of injuring an opponent, also with an increase in endurance. By this pairing, +1-3 parry = +3-4 damage (+ injury probability).
Both of these examples indicate to me that an increase of 1 to parry, is roughly equivalent in power or allure to 2 damage. Which brings me back to the balance of Body and Wits, where movement of points from Wits to Body in a Body heavy character is working with an equation of +1 parry = (up to) +1/2 damage.
Back to my question then -- are my observations in this correct? If I build a character weighted to the body attribute, will I be hindering his combat ability?
As I mentioned at the beginning, I'm VERY new to these rules. So I would be quite surprised if there weren't several things that I'm missing. I've outlined this argument not to convince you, but to accurately explain what I'm perceiving so that if I'm mistaken you may have my thought process already to deal with. There seem to be several backgrounds that allocate greater points to body than wits, so I must be missing things.
Also, has anyone played a character that has a significant allocation to body? How did that work? If I did likewise, would I be the proverbial glass cannon in combat?
Thanks!
