STR vs. VIT for leveling

[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.

[RiisWolf]

Your job first and foremost is to deal damage to grab attention.
3.0 has made everyone who's overleveled/overgear stronger in lower level content, further worsening the gap in power between you who is likely to be the appropriate level and typically geared in normal quality whites and pinks compared to those 50 levels higher in all blues.

Go Strength. Make sure you can hold threat. You cannot use your defenses if you're being ignored.

[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.

[Jxnibbles]

If you decide to go strength for leveling and have crafted strength accessories just think about melding a vit 2 into each of them.
Keeping Agro is important, Strength is nice, Being well geared is good. Just don't forget to consider your healer some may be new or under geared its leveling after all.
Generally speaking my tanking friends would always go 3 vit 2 strength accessories for leveling, and if they needed more vit because the healer was having a hard time they would swap to more vit.

[karateorangutang]

Grab all the tank gear near your level on the left.

For accessories. Don't even bother worrying about it. Just equip what you can get in drops whether it be STR or VIT. A mix is gonna be fine, there's really no need to go out of your way to get a full set of either. If you crafting it, just go ahead and grab up the VIT gear and spec STR. It's a bit safer in the levels where people are still figuring out abilities and haven't yet started to hone their craft.

Just make sure you rotating cooldowns and not spamming them. Try to use a CD towards the beginning of a group too so that your getting the maximum mitigation out of it while there is the most mobs.

Don't be afraid to pop hallowed ground/holmgang/living dead! These abilities are there for a reason! If you even think you might go down use it. If anything it'll allow the healer to stabilize HP and possibly get some DPS going while your taking no damage. Additionally they will be able to save some MP and possibly be even more ready for the next pull. This is one of the biggest mistakes around level 50 that I see tanks doing.

[Crate]

Firstly, just use whatever you get because you'll out level it all soon enough.

Secondly, use STR because it will improve your DPS, making the dungeon quicker and helping you keep aggro.

VIT is largely a useless stat if you have a half competent healer and know what you're doing. Especially lower level dungeons where it really doesn't matter who's tanking because the mobs hit for so little.

[Alahra]

If you're planning to do a lot of Duty Finder leveling, I'd recommend VIT accessories with your points put in STR. You can't always be sure of your healers with the luck of the draw, so the VIT will allow for smoother runs in the long run. Depending on your class, you might benefit more from STR. PLD has trouble with hate to some degree before picking up Shield Oath at 40, and they have additional mitigation from their shield.

More than anything though, as others have recommended, keep your left side gear current, especially after level 30. That's the most important thing.

[Arkenne]

If you cant affort HQ gears all the way from the get-go, better stack up on STR.
The Synched down DPSes can be quite a pain to tank for, even in Sastasha...

[Dante_V]

Split it while leveling. Will make your life easier on all ends. As you get more comfortable start transferring it to str as you feel necessary. Gear is wholly irrelevant to argue over. Most of it gets replaced in hours of getting it. Just grab whatever the best stuff you an wear at the time that emphasizes vit and defense and try to minimize pieces 9 or more levels below your current class level and you'll be fine. Gearing isn't really relevant until end game and until then its kind of trivial. As far as accessories, just split them if you can.