Target defense

Often abbreviated as "TD" it is a value used to determine the outcome of warding magic. Many different types of magic can invoke this type of defense, therefore each circle of magic will have its own TD value, depending upon the particular training of the target.

A character's base TD to all spells is 3 points per level, plus the relevant statistic bonus:

• Wisdom for spiritual spells
• Aura for elemental spells
• Discipline for mental spells

Sorcerer spells take the average of Wisdom and Aura.

Spells that add to a particular type of TD always add 50% to the other type and 75% to hybrid types. Example, if a spell adds +15 Spirit TD, then it'll add +7 Elemental TD and +11 Sorcerer TD. Conversely, if a spell adds +15 Sorcerer TD, then it will add +11 to Elemental and Spiritual TDs and +7 to Mental TD.

TD may be decreased due to the Force on Force effect when defending against multiple enemies, if the number of enemies exceeds the defender's Multi-Opponent Combat training. For every enemy above one's Force on Force limit, actual TD is lowered by about 2.5% of the base TD value.

Rare armors or shields may have a TD bonus in their primary property slot.

Some non-magical poison and disease attacks may also involve a warding attack. For example, from time to time skinning a Kiramon defender occasionally results in a warding attack which results in being poisoned if you fail. However, skinning a Tree viper also risks being poisoned, but that is not a (visible) warding attack and does not use Target Defense.

Spells that increase Target Defense

Spell	TD Bonus	Sphere	Scaling
Elemental Defense I (401)	+5	Elemental
Elemental Defense II (406)	+10	Elemental
Elemental Defense III (414)	+15	Elemental
Elemental Barrier (430)	+15	Elemental	+1 TD per 2 ranks of Minor Elemental above 30
Elemental Bias (508)	+20	Elemental
Melgorehn's Aura (913)	+20	Elemental	+1 TD per 3 ranks of Wizard Base above 13
Cloak of Shadows (712)	+20	Sorcerer	+1 TD per 10 ranks of Sorcerer Base above 12, not counting ranks above caster's level
Spirit Warding I (101)	+10	Spiritual
Spirit Warding II (107)	+15	Spiritual
Lesser Shroud (120)	+20	Spiritual
Spell Shield (219)	+30	Spiritual
Warding Sphere (310)	+10	Spiritual	+1 TD per 2 ranks of Cleric Base above 10, max +20 TD
Prayer (313)	+10	Spiritual
Self Control (613)	+20	Spiritual
Nature's Touch (625)	+1	Spiritual	+1 TD per 2 ranks of Ranger Base above 25, max +12 TD
Song of Valor (1010)	+15	Elemental	(Just elemental, even though bard circle is Ele/Men hybrid)
Empathic Focus (1109)	+15	Spiritual
Strength of Will (1119)	+12	Spiritual	+1 per 3 ranks of Empath Base above 19, max +25 TD
Mantle of Faith (1601)	+5	Spiritual	+1 TD per seed 2 summation of Spiritual Lore, Blessings
Faith Shield (1619)	+50	Spiritual	3% * (seed 5 summation of Spiritual Lore, Religion), max +74 TD at 68 ranks
Mindward (1208)	+20	Mental	+1 TD per 2 ranks of Minor Mental above 8, max +40 TD

Spells that decrease Target Defense

• Elemental Saturation (413): -25 to Elemental TD; additional TD pushdown with seed 5 summation of Elemental Lore, Fire.
• Hex Curse (715): -24 or -25 to all TD (no warding check)
• Song of Depression (1015): -20 TD to all; additional TD pushdown with Mental Lore, Telepathy ranks. Maximum with lore bonus -40 TD.
• Interference (212): -15 Spiritual TD; additional TD pushdown with seed 5 summation of Spiritual Lore, Summoning.

Spells with natural pushdown

• Frenzy (216)
• Corrupt Essence (703)
• Torment (718)
• Bone Shatter (1106) (only for level < 35)
• Empathic Assault (1110)

Nature's Fury (635) may also have pushdown but there are no other warding spells in Ranger Base to compare against.

Natural TD bonuses based on your race

Race	Spiritual	Elemental	Mental	Poison	Disease
Aelotoi	0	0	0	0	?
Burghal gnome	0	0	0	0	0
Dark elf	-5	-5	0	+10	+100
Dwarf	0	+30	0	+20	+15
Elf	-5	-5	0	+10	+100
Erithian	0	0	0	0	?
Forest gnome	0	0	0	0	0
Giantman	+5	0	0	0	?
Half-elf	-5	-5	0	0	+50
Half-krolvin	0	0	0	0	?
Halfling	0	+40	0	+30	+30
Human	0	0	0	0	?
Sylvankind	-5	-5	0	+10	+100

Apply the average for hybrid circles. For example, dwarves have a +15 bonus to their TD versus sorcerer spells.