Not Enough Carrying Capacity?

[WatersLethe]

Heavy armor is at least 3 bulk, most two handed weapons are 2 bulk, there are feats that require two 2-handers (and a spare is always a good idea) so before any other gear you're at 7 bulk. 5 + (1/2 con) is 7 bulk until level 10.

What's the deal here? Are we supposed to be dipping into strength just to carry the bare minimum?

[Teridax]

If you're going for a build that requires two two-handers, then boosting Strength makes sense, yes, as that's a particularly Bulk-intensive build. I would say Strength is generally a good idea on a Soldier both for carrying stuff and for switch-hitting, and I'd say the attribute definitely makes more thematic sense than Dexterity, which is currently unfortunately necessary just for Primary Target.

In the future, I do hope they remove Walking Armory, though, along with Fearsome Bulwark, because not only do I think neither feature is necessary, neither feature succeeds at making the Soldier less MAD, because they fail to cover the Dex-based attack roll on Primary Target. If the Soldier could simply use Con for two-handed attack rolls and perhaps still their heavy armor Strength requirements, that'd be the only stat-conversion feature they'd need, and they'd then be naturally incentivized to go for Strength, Wisdom, and Charisma or Intelligence as a fourth stat. +3 Strength to begin with would let the Soldier carry 8 Bulk, enough for a double two-hander build and a few items, and if the class still needs more support they could always just get Hefty Hauler for free.

[Driftbourne]

Or instead of hefty hauler for free maybe let soldiers use their Con bonus instead of Str In the military long marches and carrying a heavy pack go together.

[Teridax]

Hefty Hauler I'd say is what reflects that; you get the feat quite often from certain labor-intensive backgrounds too. Because it increases your Bulk limits by 2, it covers most classes' carrying needs quite easily, all of which is made irrelevant once you get null space chambers. Since melee Soldiers are going to be getting Strength for those melee damage rolls at the very least, that should be able to cover the two-heavy-weapon switch-hitter build's Bulk requirements.