DEF and moves

[Thaal Sinestro]

Quick question: Do you need a move to "express" your DEF like we do with ATK? If NOT, then do we need moves to express things like shields? You gave me a price for the Hard Light Shield, so I'm assuming there must be some kinda difference.

[Omni]

Quick question: Do you need a move to "express" your DEF like we do with ATK? If NOT, then do we need moves to express things like shields? You gave me a price for the Hard Light Shield, so I'm assuming there must be some kinda difference.

You don't need a move to 'express' your DEF. Someone with higher DEF is always more naturally resilient. But using a shield will certainly help you take less damage.

[Thaal Sinestro]

So, for example, a character like Captain America who has a not-quite superhuman DEF could get a Shield and defend against things like bullets? However, a character who is always defended, such as Tony Stark in his armor, would have a higher innate DEF, without having to buy a move called "armor" or whatever.

Is this interpretation close to correct?

[Omni]

Can't really explain it much simpler than the original description on the stats page:

"Your character’s raw defensive power, or the defensive strength of their equipment. It determines how hard they are to kill, either through sheer resilience or defensive moves like shields. It also augments the power of abilities that heal or shield other characters, and increases their resistance to debilitating moves."

A character with higher DEF has both higher natural resilience, and better defensive potential with moves like shields.

[Thaal Sinestro]

So if I don't need to express DEF and shields don't do anything functionally, do I need to buy a shield move? Why do I need to pay for a cosmetic change?

[Omni]

So if I don't need to express DEF and shields don't do anything functionally, do I need to buy a shield move? Why do I need to pay for a cosmetic change?

I think you've misunderstood, I didn't say that.

Someone with higher DEF is always more naturally resilient. But using a shield will certainly help you take less damage.

[Thaal Sinestro]

Then I refer back to my question before you posted the quote from the stats page:

Do shields functionally help you prevent more damage, such as captain america blocking bullets with his shield? His DEF is like a two, MAYBE three, without it. If he gets shot in the face, he dies. That happened once. However, WITH a shield he can block bullets (roughly a five on your scale I think?)

So, the question is whether his DEF is 3 or 5 with the purchase of the shield? (Let's ignore that the shield is badass in this example. It is capable ONLY of blocking bullets)

[Omni]

Then I refer back to my question before you posted the quote from the stats page:

Do shields functionally help you prevent more damage, such as captain america blocking bullets with his shield? His DEF is like a two, MAYBE three, without it. If he gets shot in the face, he dies. That happened once. However, WITH a shield he can block bullets (roughly a five on your scale I think?)

Something like that, yeah.