DEFENCE
Your Defence score is equal to:

- your COMBAT score
- plus the highest combat bonus from an item
- plus your Rank
- plus the highest defence bonus for the armour or defence item you're wearing (if any).

Every suit of armour you find will have a Defence bonus listed for it. The higher the bonus, the better the armour. You can carry several suits of armour if you wish – but because you can wear only one at a time, you only get the Defence bonus of the best armour you are carrying.

MAXIMUM DEFENCE SCORE RULE :

The maximum bonus to Defence from a character’s COMBAT is 12.

Whether it is a character with 9 COMBAT and a +5 sword or a character with 12 COMBAT a +8 white sword and a potion of strength, they will all receive 12 to their Defence. They will of course still benefit from a high COMBAT score when attacking and damaging opponents.

The maximum bonus to Defence from a character’s Rank and a defence item is also 12. Whether the character is 16th Rank or 11th Rank with a +1 ring of defence, the most they will both add to Defence is 12.

Therefore no character can have a Defence superior to 24.