Is there a talent that lets me use an engaged enemy to increase defense for me to use them as a shield vs incoming attacks? I know there is the initial upgrade and despair potential on a ranged attack but I wasn't sure if there was a talent that did this with improved affect also.

7 minutes ago, Lukey84 said:

Is there a talent that lets me use an engaged enemy to increase defense for me to use them as a shield vs incoming attacks? I know there is the initial upgrade and despair potential on a ranged attack but I wasn't sure if there was a talent that did this with improved affect also.

That would open up for serious abuse of Player Agency...

But there's the Bodyguard talent, which upgrades the difficulty of attacks against the guarded person, but still not a meat shield.

Also the rules say, when you shoot a target engaged by an ally, you upgrade once and with a despair, you hit your ally. You can use that rule for that, grabbing an enemy, so the rest has to upgrade.

Nothing specific like that but there are talents that you can use narrative to explain that is what your doing. Moving Target, Sixth Sense, Superior Reflexes all add Defense and are worded in way that they could involve using a meat shield.

1 hour ago, Lukey84 said:

Is there a talent that lets me use an engaged enemy to increase defense for me to use them as a shield vs incoming attacks? I know there is the initial upgrade and despair potential on a ranged attack but I wasn't sure if there was a talent that did this with improved affect also.

Well as you've pointed out the RAW says when you shoot a target engaged by an ally, you upgrade once and with a despair you hit your ally. This works both ways so thats how I'd rule it as a GM. A Talent isn't necessary because there is already a rule that covers it, what you'd need to do is make sure your enemy doesn't move away so as Rimsen pointed out you'd just need to successfully grapple them. In a situation where the enemy is incapacitated then I'd either require an Athletics check to hold them up if you aren't attacking or if you wanted to Attack I'd give a few Setbacks based on the difference in Brawn between the PC and the NPC.

By RAW there's a few ways to make this happen:

1) You could take a maneuver and argue you're using the other character as "cover." Not a 100% always works situation, but in small head-count situations I could see you making a point of keeping the the other guy between you and the shooter.

2) Sufficient Advantage/Triumph on a check can allow you to impose setbacks/ect. on opponents or give yourself improved defenses. Using the other guy as cover would be an interpretation on how that mechanical effect translated to the narrative action.

3) Spending a D-point can also be used to alter an opponents difficulty.

I did let my player do such a thing with an opposed brawl check, which he has to do every turn in order to keep the enemy grappled. just make sure to add setbacks or boosts depending on how weakened the enemy is and I probably wouldnt let that happen to a nemesis enemy without good reason.

it may sound too strong but I had a 4 brawn 2 brawl marauder PC try to grapple an enemy like that and he failed to do so 3 rounds in a row, which eventually just wasted a lot of time.

with enough advantages/triumph any NPC will still be able to hit the PC holding the meatshield ofc.

The Dodge and Side Step talents will upgrade a ranged attack against you, increasing the chance that the attacker will roll a despair which, as @Rimsen said, would result in a hit on the enemy you’re engaged with.