I think I have this one figured out, but I like to be certain.

I am leveling a Gunman at the moment (LvL 15), and I'm trying to reconcile the difference between Ballistic Defense and Ballistic Resistance. My hypothesis is that Ballistic Defense determines my Ranged Defensive Tactics Roll and thus whether I win an IL exchange, whereas Ballistic Resistance simply determines how much damage you take if you do lose an IL roll.

If that's true then I'm probably shooting myself in the foot (no pun intended although I realize the irony of a Gunman shooting himself) by having so much gear that offers Resistance instead of Defense. But that depends on whether I am correct in my assessment or not.

I kill just about everything that comes across me right now anyway so it doesn't mean much for my level but I suspect that it will before long and I don't wanna be a lvl 38 and not know something this basic.

You're basically right.  When someone attacks you with guns, your Ballistic Defense will be the major factor in whether they hit or miss (of course their Ballistic Accuracy is a factor.)  If they are attacking with Melee, then it would be their Melee Accuracy + roll vs. your Melee Defense + roll.

When you do get hit by gun fire, your total Ballistic Damage Resistance is subtracted from the amount of damage they would have caused you.  Example: you have 120 BDR, the opponent hits you for 800 points of Ballistic Damage, you take 680 points of damage.

Keep in mind that Bonus %s from apparel, like a shirt with 2% Ballistic Defense, only applies if you are wearing the shirt when you start an Upgrade which has Ballistic Defense, like Gunslinger Upgrade.  So, start Hyper-dodge, put on all your apparel with Ballistic Defense Bonus %s, start your best Upgrade that has Ballistic Defense, then put on your Ballistic Damage Resistance apparel.

Use the Awakened level 10 "Hyper" Abilities to manage your base Defense.  If someone is attacking you with Melee, use Hyper-block. Vs. Ballistics use Hyper-dodge.  Getting hacked?  Switch to Hyper-deflect.  Someone using Thrown knives against you?  Use Hyper-sense.

The Abilites below the "Hypers" in the Awakened Tree boost your Resistances, so if you're in your Ballistic Defense apparel and feel the need for additional Ballistic Damage Resistance, hit Adrenaline Booster.

Also, apply your Attribute points in the Upgrade Panel with a mind toward your Accuracy, Defense and Damage (which Attribute scores will depend on which type of attack/defense/damage/resistance you're going for.)

PS10N wrote:

1-You're basically right.  When someone attacks you with guns, your Ballistic Defense will be the major factor in whether they hit or miss (of course their Ballistic Accuracy is a factor.)  If they are attacking with Melee, then it would be their Melee Accuracy + roll vs. your Melee Defense + roll.

When you do get hit by gun fire, your total Ballistic Damage Resistance is subtracted from the amount of damage they would have caused you.  Example: you have 120 BDR, the opponent hits you for 800 points of Ballistic Damage, you take 680 points of damage.

2-Keep in mind that Bonus %s from apparel, like a shirt with 2% Ballistic Defense, only applies if you are wearing the shirt when you start an Upgrade which has Ballistic Defense, like Gunslinger Upgrade.  So, start Hyper-dodge, put on all your apparel with Ballistic Defense Bonus %s, start your best Upgrade that has Ballistic Defense, then put on your Ballistic Damage Resistance apparel.

3-Use the Awakened level 10 "Hyper" Abilities to manage your base Defense.  If someone is attacking you with Melee, use Hyper-block. Vs. Ballistics use Hyper-dodge.  Getting hacked?  Switch to Hyper-deflect.  Someone using Thrown knives against you?  Use Hyper-sense.

4-The Abilites below the "Hypers" in the Awakened Tree boost your Resistances, so if you're in your Ballistic Defense apparel and feel the need for additional Ballistic Damage Resistance, hit Adrenaline Booster.

5-Also, apply your Attribute points in the Upgrade Panel with a mind toward your Accuracy, Defense and Damage (which Attribute scores will depend on which type of attack/defense/damage/resistance you're going for.)

 

First of all thanks alot for that response. It was helpful. Now to address a few points...

1-Ballistic/Melee Accuracy=Combat Tactics Score?  and Melee/Ballistic Defense=Melee Defense or Ranged Defense Tactic Roll (respectively)?

And is there any math out there showing accuracy and defense score (or average CT rolls) for PvE mobs of varying cons (Yellow and Orange are all that I would be concerned about at the moment tho tbh)

2- This part is a little confusing to me...I will need to sit down and play with my character's clothes and try to get a feel for this mechanic. So the order is start upgrade then put the clothes on to buff it? That means that if I'm already dressed and I start a buff I wont get the benefits from my clothes unless I take them off and put them back on...?

This sounds like it may make switching Hypers or Upgrades during fights a bit of a problem(well I don't think you can switch upgrades mid-fight). For example (and keep in mind this is theoretical I don't have many clothes and they ALL seem to have +Res on them), I start my Hyper Dodge buff then throw on all my +Ball. Def. clothes on for the bonuses, then switch to Hyper-Block during an IL skirmish and kill the mob...if I switch BACK to Hyper Dodge will I have to take off the clothes and them put them back on to get the bonuses once more? If I simply switch back my clothing bonuses will get ignored. It's not the end of the world, but it sounds like I may need to do something nifty macro writing and I kinda gave up heavy macro'ing after I left WoW.

3-4- It took me a while to realize that the "Hypers" were for + Def and the Buffs underneath were + Res. Those generally make sense although my switching is clunky at the moment. Fortunately it rarely matters NPCs usually just die, but I do need to become more fluid for the future levels and PvP when the time comes.

5-Yea sadly my stats are probably not so good and I believe a Stat Hack will be in short order....

edited for ease of response organization 

well, now I have a question on the matter. As far as I know the combat tactics (power, speed, grab, block)  modify defence and combat evasion. I assume that in this case defense is damage reduction and combat evasion speaks for itself. If I have that wrong I'd like to know.

My question is; what in the crap to the tactic boosters actually do? I says combat tactics +A number. but what does it increase? accuracy? or all the modifiers of the tactic you're using? (you know power does more damage and you have even less evasion, etc) Both the stats page and the game manual are of little help on this matter.

Tactic Boosters improve your combat tactics which is essentially Accuracy. 

Defense is not Damage Reduction, this is explained above.