while I agree to a certain degree, the problem is that combat is a core element of the rules (the one likely to be covered directly or indirectly in a majority of the pages) and a common element in gaming sessions by nature of being a RPG game as well as the theme with enemies that you just cannot argue with.
I think one element TOR 1e and 2e differ from other games is the space given to combat rules, p93-104 in the 2e TOR core book v p152-175 in my A Song of Ice and Fire RPG (Game of Thrones Edition), p91-109 in Savage Worlds (Deluxe Edition). Star Wars Saga Edition is p142-p163 on combat (the 3.0-3.5 D&D era of Star Wars rules). Or p133-160 of the D&D 3.5 player's handbook. And naturally as you point out some other pages touch on combat (a Virtue etc), but that tends to be true across game systems.
- "On average, a Company will experience at least one combat encounter in one out of every two sessions of play." - so while not infrequent some campaigns might have a lot of combat, others less. I think it's okay if some PCs are better at combat than others, as long as PCs are all good at something. And I like the flexibility to be able to "play against type" with a Hobbit or Man of Bree fighter, but I think a few of us having hopefully shown how to do that in this thread. In the Chamber fight in Moria Boromir and Aragorn "slew many" and Legolas shoots two through the throat: it's their moment! But the text also find a little time for Sam receiving a scrape to his head in felling an orc. He doesn't kill as many, but the loremaster still highlights it as relative to his Attributes and Combat Proficiency it is a great deed.
- You can Rally Comrades/Intimidate foes, although if you've got good Strength (for using Awe in Intimidate Foes) you've often invested in Combat Proficiency, so Rally Comrades is a likely use for non-combat focused PCs. With a decent sized group and some High Strength friends, you can contribute more damage this way than via an attack. Converting a hit or two from a miss, or adding an extra 1d that ends up a 6 adds to the group's damage output.
- Battle rolls: if you've got poor Strength, you've presumably got good Heart and Wits. Your plans and aid could help your fellow PCs or hinder their foes by "kicking a fire to raise a cloud of sparks". If the action makes sense, then I think Battle rolls can help other PCs or hinder their foes (and indeed other Skills being used for the same purpose via "Other actions"). Or just use Battle to Protect comrade, but that isn't as interesting, fun or dramatic as some of the ideas here! [Savage worlds does this really well via a wide range of skills being able to impart the Distracted or Vulnerable debuff on foes, the limit is the player's imagination and the situation]
- "Other actions" (p98): combat isn't just about killing the enemy, as the rules are keen to emphasise on p93-94. While Daeron and Cirion, your high Strength and Parry High Elf and Ranger friends hold off the Orcs at the doorway, you can raise the drawbridge with Athletics/use Lore to complete the ritual/craft to light the Signal fire that summons the eagles or cavalry etc. Use Athletics/Craft to topple a Stone or Pillar on foes. Or you can be busy rescuing the prisoners, as once they're out of their cages they'll help turn the tide. Or maybe you use Scan/Awareness or even Hunting/Lore to seek out a weakness in a foe as your action, letting other PCs strike at a weak point and lowering its Armour dice. Maybe the fight is just a distraction so the Hobbit can use Stealth to grab a key ritual component and then the PCs flee from their overwhelming foes? The kind of help the non-combatants might offer in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, if I can blend genres!
- TOR 2e combat is quick, so if you're not the star of a particular scene you'll shine promptly later rather than sitting around for hours. I'm very keen on everyone being useful in different ways in Pathfinder where combats last a long time, but doesn't have to be the case here and can match the theme. As long as it is a player choice to specialise elsewhere and not an accident! Continuing my theme from above, Buffy might get a big fight scene, but we also get scenes where we see the decisive contribution Giles/Willow (etc) made via research.
That said, I would like to see a few more Combat actions, just as we eventually saw more in 1e. Trying to figure out source material appropriate ideas with interesting mechanical niches below.
- Something that gave PCs a route to interact with a foe's Hate/Resolve? The alpha's Intimidate Foes did this and while I can see why they changed it in the published rules (published version more generally useful v physical attacks), there are some foes where the threat comes more from Hate/Resolve spending. We retain some of this with the special riddle action in 2e, but could see something similar to the Alpha's Intimidate Foes returning.
- Formalising some of my ideas above, like pointing out a weakness in a foe's armour? That feels less necessary to me as I'm happy to operate ad-hoc, but understand if many want these things standardised.
- I'd like something similar to 1e's "swift strokes" to clear lots of lesser foes quickly if you're a good fighter. This came in a supplement. We see multiple foes defeated quickly several times in the source material, but it is hard to emulate that at the moment bar some Magical Rewards. But that doesn't really help our non-combatant!
- Endurance recovery has understandably been dropped from 2e in Combat options (now happens after combat, avoids weirdness like dragging out a combat for Endurance recovery).
Are there particular mechanical things a non-combatant could cover? We've got debuffs (Intimidate), buffs (Rally Comrades), combat healing is potentially out (albeit could reintroduce it!) and removing debuffs (Weary condition) is covered as a Secondary action already (via Song). Protecting allies is covered by Battle. But I think my idea above on attacking Hate/Resolve could work as it was in the Alpha and there are other player mechanics that do this (Gleam of Wrath, Gleam of Terror, Biting Dart, Riddle against trolls or Intimidate Foe against Craven foes).
- Rhymes of Lore/Protective rituals via Riddle and Lore to drain Hate from Undead/Werewolf foes feels genre appropriate. Song too given what we see of Luthien's deeds (albeit the PCs are on a lesser scale!). Easy to expand out the Troll use of Riddle.