Maximize Defense in KotOR2

At Level 30, I can reach a value of 71 in Defense.

Character:

• Starting Attributes:
  • Strength (STR): 10
    • Leftover points go here
  • Dexterity (DEX): 16
    • Then increase every fourth level, yielding 7 increases at Level 30
  • Constitution (CON): 15
    • Why put any points into CON if we don't care about Hit Points? Implants in KotOR2 now depend on Constitution.
    • Why 15? Over the course of the game, conversations with your companions can yield three³ +1 bonuses to Constitution.
  • Intelligence (INT): 8
  • Wisdom (WIS): 16
    • Stat increases from companion conversation can provide +6 to Wisdom
  • Charisma (CHA): 8
• Light-Sided: Better Name Crystal
  • To gain all bonuses from companion conversations, you will have to make some Dark Side choices.
• Classes
  • Jedi Sentinel: 15 Levels
    • Jedi Guardian has the same Defense bonus, but Sentinel also give the immunities to Fear, Stun, and Paralysis, which fit better with a defensive character
  • Jedi Weapon Master: 15 Levels
    • All of the Prestige Classes have the same Defense bonuses
• Male: To gain the Battle Precognition Power from the Handmaiden, which adds your Wisdom Modifier to Defense.
• Feats
  • Dueling¹
  • Power Attack: No Defense penalties (and decent Damage output, too)
  • Finesse: Melee Weapons
    • Does not affect Defense, but an obvious choice for a character like this. Note that Finesse for Melee Weapons implies Finesse for Lightsabers as well, though you can gain Finesse: Lightsabers from an in-game conversation midway through the game.
• Equipment
  • Implant: Quickness D-Package (+4 DEX, +1 Defense²)
  • Head: Circlet of Saresh (+5 WIS)
    • The Target Assessor is a nice alternative for characters without Battle Precognition or for those who want to sacrifice a bit of Defense for a bit of Attack (+2 DEX, +2 Attack)
  • Hands: Improved Automation Gloves (+5 DEX)
  • Armband: Vao Armband (+1 DEX)
  • Belt: Aratech Echo Belt (+4 DEX)
  • Robes: Ossus Keeper Robe (+4 WIS, +1 Defense²)
    • For Robes, any Defense bonus counts toward the cap of 10². For Armor, the Defense bonus includes an Armor bonus, which does not count toward the cap.
    • The Matukai Adept Robe (+2 DEX, +1 Defense) works well for characters without Battle Precognition.
  • Lightsaber: Only a single Saber¹, and only the Name Crystal matters, because the game only takes the highest of multiple modifiers for the same Attribute. (+5 DEX, +6 WIS)
    • Assume the Name Crystal at Level 30
    • Even though for playing purposes, this is probably not a realistic scenario because you can't upgrade the Crystal once you have found all of the Jedi.
    • Why not throw a Fencing Emitter (+2 Defense) in there anyway, to offset any Defense penalties²? In any case, I think it's the best emitter for offensive characters as well.
• Active Force Powers
  • Master Valor (+5 DEX, +5 WIS)
  • Master Speed (+4 Defense)
  • Force Armor (+6 Defense)

Calculation:

• Base: 10
• Class: 14
  • Jedi Sentinel: 6
  • Jedi Weapon Master: 8
• Dexterity: 18 (from the modifier for 47 DEX)
  • Base: 23 DEX
    • Start: 16
    • Level Stat increases: 7
  • Quickness D-Package: +4 DEX
  • Improved Automation Gloves: +5 DEX
  • Vao Armband: +1 DEX
  • Aratech Echo Belt: +4 DEX
  • Name Crystal: +5 DEX
  • Master Valor: +5 DEX
• Wisdom: 16 (from the modifier for 42 WIS)
  • Base: 22 WIS
    • Start: 16
    • Companion conversation increases: 6
  • Circlet of Saresh: +5 WIS
  • Ossus Keeper Robe: +4 WIS
  • Name Crystal: +6 WIS
  • Master Valor: +5 WIS
• Dueling: 3
• Powers and Effects: 10²
  • Quickness D-Package: +1 Defense
  • Ossus Keeper Robe: +1 Defense
  • Lightsaber (Fencing Emitter): +2 Defense
  • Master Speed: +4 Defense
  • Force Armor: +6 Defense
  • Because this list totals 14, the character can absorb -4 in Defense penalties before lowering his total Defense.

Notes:

¹: Initially, you would assume Dueling would provide the highest bonus, since it grants +3 to Defense with Master Dueling. But then, you realize that Lightsaber upgrades can provide Defense bonuses, and that a Fencing Emitter and a Lorridan Gemstone together will result in a Defense bonus of +4. But, then you realize the game caps Defense bonuses from Items and Effects at 10², and you can reach that with Force Powers alone. And Lightsaber Crystals do not provide sufficient bonuses to Wisdom or Dexterity to overcome the +3 from Dueling. So, Dueling does indeed provide the highest ceiling for Defense.

²: I could only see the cap of 10 Defense from Items and Effects in-game, but it seemed to accord with the rules from KotOR. However, any bonuses in excess of 10 can offset any penalties from Attack types like Critical Strike (-5 to Defense) or detriments from Effects like Slow.

³: You can actually achieve four +1 CON bonuses, but instead of the fourth, you can gain a +2 WIS bonus instead, which has more value for the pure-Defense character.