STR vs. VIT for leveling

[Xenosan]

The VIT and STR is less important - almost iirelevant - to low level gearing as there's a far worse problem I've seen of tanks leveling their low lvl DRK.

Scale Mail, Elmos, Sallets, Mitt Gloves.

These are not tanking gears.

Every 5 lvls tanks can upgrade between plate armors and heavy plate armors. Use that and upgrade to the next batch every 5 lvls. Doing that with all STR Accessory right side is perfectly fine. PDEF/MDEF is what matters. And that Scale armor does not have it, so tanks should consider their healers.

The Scale Mail and Elmos and such, wish they'd just make them DRG exclusive. It's not for tanking. Fate grinding, fair - because it doesn't matter. But dungeon running, be considerate and wear the right stuff.

[Freyyy]

Scale Mail, Elmos, Sallets, Mitt Gloves.

These are not tanking gears.

For lower levels (Steel Scale and Horn Scale gear, the level 32 and 38 sets), these are actually as much tank gear as heavy armor. At the level where you can equip them, they are the best tank gear option available. It starts being squishy DRG gear only with the level 41 scale set. Anything before that gives tank def/mdef values.

[Xenosan]

As long as you're not skipping a plate upgrade because you went with a scale set 2-3 lvls before reaching the next tier that's fine. But those sets do have a lower PDEF/MDEF rating per iLVL than plate so you're not gettign as much bang for your buck. Realistically I wouldn't expect someone to upgrade every 3 > 2 > 3 > 2 lvls but if they do, great

[Freyyy]

As long as you're not skipping a plate upgrade because you went with a scale set 2-3 lvls before reaching the next tier that's fine. But those sets do have a lower PDEF/MDEF rating per iLVL than plate so you're not gettign as much bang for your buck. Realistically I wouldn't expect someone to upgrade every 3 > 2 > 3 > 2 lvls but if they do, great

When a level 32 pink scale armor drops at Brayflox longstop, it's still an upgrade if you don't have the green set yet. Same at Cutters Cry. The level 38 pink scale set is better than the level 35 full plate set. Most people wear these scale sets because that's what dropped for them. And that's fine. It only becomes a problem if they wear the level 41 scale gear, which is then weaker than the level 38 horn scale gear because it's actually becoming full blown DRG armor with low magic defense.

[fm_fenrir]

full blown DRG armor with low magic defense.

Tortoiseshell Scale Mail disagrees with your proposition, but is an outlier in your generalized statement. It's easily overlooked because it's functionally useless if you're playing a class that has AF, but it's worthwhile for DRK who does not.

Anyway, there's no law that says you have to stack all VIT or all STR, but I certainly had more fun playing my tanks like I was a fat DPS 1-50. STR all the way to the finish line, if you ask me.