Defense: When do you increase it?

[Alderaan Crumbs 441]

I know what the RAW are but after reading a bunch of threads that mention "adding" vs "increasing" vs "whatever", I am confused! Could one of you rule-gurus please explain how different Defense values are calculated beyond "take the highest" (provided there are other rules beyond that)?

[Krieger22 2,471]

If there are talents or item qualities that state "+1 defence" or "add defence" then you increase the character's defence. The only thing that typically doesn't stack with pre-existing defence is taking cover, because it "sets your ranged defence to 1" and dual-wielding weapons with the +1 defence quality (you only get one). Adding, increasing or +1-ing all add up, it's just when the text specified that your defence is set to a specific number that it doesn't stack.

[Alderaan Crumbs 441]

Still confused. So, armored robes, a personal shield, a Defensive weapon, a +1 Melee from FSEx and a defensive boost from a lightsaber Talent would be a 5 Defense?

[2P51 33,444]

The rules are kind of simmering chaos.  Essentially armor sets a Defense rating and it is typically general defense.  Then more or less everything else modifies it.  So the armor and shield wouldn't stack but all other kinds of things would add to that.  It also looks like they are changing cover to +1 Ranged defense with F&D beta.

 

Defense could use a game system wide errata update.  It's kind of a come as you are party depending on what book you are looking at.

Edited August 25, 2014 by 2P51

[kaosoe 7,573]

In an effort to fix things, they may have just re-confused me.

[Alderaan Crumbs 441]

Now everybody's confused!

[Demigonis 100]

Yes, I think we could really use a step-by-step breakdown and clarification about how defense stacking works.