Shield Mist question

[galafrone]

Shield Mist
Threads: 1 Weaving: 6 / 13 Casting: TSD
Range: Self Duration: Rank + 3 rounds Effect: WIL + 6
Air. This spell creates a shield of mist that hardens and moves to deflect blows directed against the magician. The magician moves his hands over his body while wisps of mist pour from his fingertips, then makes a Spellcasting Test against his natural Spell Defense. If successful, he makes an Effect Test in place of an Avoid Blow Test (p. 62) against close and ranged combat Attack Tests directed at him. If the Avoid Blow Test succeeds, the mist deflects the blow and the magician suffers no harm. There is no Strain cost for this Test. The shielding effect only works against attacks that the magician can see. The magician may make a number of Effect Tests each round equal to his Spellcasting Rank. Only one Test may be made against a single attack. The magician is visible within the mist
and can easily see out. The mist does not hinder his actions.

These are the questions

1) the natural spell defense means his basic "perception" derivated SD ? does the "natural SD" can include the SD bonuses coming from the higher cirlces bonuses ?
2) can the spellcaster use WIllforce for the Spell Effect ? (i will say yes)

[Anunnaki]

[galafrone]

so basically a caster cant lower his SD to 2 voluntarily for this cast. he has to beat his SD to have effect.
and we take out anything that helps SD like threads, objects, spells and such
he/she has to beat that number (for example, a nethermancer with 16 per and 2nd circle has SD10, that's the TSD number)
i am correct ?
thanks annunaki

[Anunnaki]

Hiya,

The spellcaster can lower his Spell Defense for casting, using the normal rules for doing so.

And I put you wrong, earlier, sorry. The spellcaster's "natural" Spell Defense is based on his Perception only; Circle bonuses, bonuses from objects, spells, threads, etc., aren't included.

I'll update my earlier reply.

Kind regards, James