Any attack that isn't a trait would be a standard attack. Which would be your ATK rating, unless you have armed yourself beforehand - and depending on your character, you can arm youself with a lot of stuff, Deimos once wielded a Door - or throwing something. Depending on what something is, you might get attack bonuses. Realism does come into play, however. If you aren't telekinetic and/or super strong, don't expect to throw cars. You have narrative freedom with how you go about your attacks, and well written or smartly put-forward attacks will also get bonuses.
And don't worry about the noobling. I feel it's merely payback for what Genni had to put up with me, way back in the day.