Confidence and Armor max dex bonus

[Rosamo]

Hey forumites, just returned to ddo from a very long absence. I've been enjoying life as a bard but was wondering if anyone would shed some light on confidence, max dex bonus, and dodge cap.
If it's true that:
1. Max dex bonus of your armor is the thing that caps your dodge bonus (up to a maximum of 25%, though it's possible to raise this cap)
and
2. Confidence will raise the max dex bonus of your armor, up to a maximum of +6 if you have all the swashbuckling cores.

Will this +6 naturally be applied to the mouseover information of any piece of light armor you have in your inventory?

Reason I ask is that I'm not noticing an increase in max dex bonus of light armor tooltips once I equip the armor. Other gear, like weapons, will have updated tooltip descriptions showing the swashbuckling bonuses. My dodge is getting capped at the max dex bonus of the light armor before I equip it, and I was expecting to see that max dex bonus be increased by 3 (I currently have 3 swash core enhancements).

Most likely I'm doing something wrong, any help would be appreciated!

[Feithlin]

Hey forumites, just returned to ddo from a very long absence. I've been enjoying life as a bard but was wondering if anyone would shed some light on confidence, max dex bonus, and dodge cap.
If it's true that:
1. Max dex bonus of your armor is the thing that caps your dodge bonus (up to a maximum of 25%, though it's possible to raise this cap)
and
2. Confidence will raise the max dex bonus of your armor, up to a maximum of +6 if you have all the swashbuckling cores.

Will this +6 naturally be applied to the mouseover information of any piece of light armor you have in your inventory?

Reason I ask is that I'm not noticing an increase in max dex bonus of light armor tooltips once I equip the armor. Other gear, like weapons, will have updated tooltip descriptions showing the swashbuckling bonuses. My dodge is getting capped at the max dex bonus of the light armor before I equip it, and I was expecting to see that max dex bonus be increased by 3 (I currently have 3 swash core enhancements).

Most likely I'm doing something wrong, any help would be appreciated!

IIRC MDB modifiers are included into the MDB showing in the tooltip wether you're wearing the armor or not. So, to notice the difference, you would need to compare what's shown from the point of view of a character not having MDB modifiers (or in the wiki) and from the point of view of your character.

[unbongwah]

There are three things you have to worry about: your max Dodge cap, your max DEX bonus (MDB), and your actual Dodge bonus. Ideally, all three values are the same, so nothing goes to waste, because otherwise you're bounded by the lowest value. The base max Dodge cap for everyone is 25%, but it can be boosted by enhancements and the Fencing Master guildship buff; also some temp Dodge bonuses ignore your Dodge cap, such as Uncanny Dodge. Base MDB is determined by your armor, which again can be boosted with enhancements, gear such as Armored Agility augment, and the Mobility feat. EDIT: notice that some effects boost your Dodge cap and MDB simultaneously, while others only boost one of them, so it's important to keep them in sync.

ETA: right now I think the highest possible max Dodge cap is 39% on a halfling monk 5+ / ftr 3+: base 25 + 3 halfling Nimble Reaction + 5 (Meditation of War in Ocean stance) + 3 (Kensei Ascetic Training or Ninja Agility) + 3 (Kensei Imp Mobility).

[gwonbush]

ETA: right now I think the highest possible max Dodge cap is 39% on a halfling monk 5+ / ftr 3+: base 25 + 3 halfling Nimble Reaction + 5 (Meditation of War in Ocean stance) + 3 (Kensei Ascetic Training or Ninja Agility) + 3 (Kensei Imp Mobility).

That's old data that doesn't even include ship buffs. Now it's a rogue 12+/Monk2+/Fighter3+ (and the monk is droppable). 25 Base +3 Nimble reaction +2 Fencing Master, +3 Ninja Agility +3 Imp Mobility + 2 Tumbler +2 Kip Up and up to +10 Measure the Foe (requires dropping into sneak every 8 secs). This brings you up to a full 50% dodge, which launches to 100% with Improved Uncanny dodge.