LL Tank Questions?

[Risen_Sorcerer]

Okay, got my monk up to level 35 and am very curious here. I have never leveled a tank, nor did I think I ever would but I am enjoying this monk very much. Here are my questions:

What damages should I put on my 35 and DB Quarterstaff?

They currently are:
L35
2d12 Cold (Change to: ?)
2d12 Sonic (Change to: ?)
2d12 Fire (Change to: ?)
2d10 Divine (Change to: ?)
2d10 Positive (Change to: ?)

DB
2d12 Acid (Change to: ?)
2d12 Cold (Change to: ?)
2d12 Electric (Change to: ?)
2d12 Divine (Change to: ?)
2d12 Magic (Change to: ?)
2d12 Positive (Change to: ?)

(NOTE: I do not want my weapons having electric damage as I will want to run rona to find the quarterstaff.)

And my second question. How do I survive as a str monk in LL levels? I got strongheart ill be using and will be using the HS boots, hopefully will get a crucible and pom tag soon, until then I am down 4 ac from boots and up 4 ac from amulet. How do I survive? How do I make sure I can take the damage and not get hit?

Thank you!

[Lythe Featherblade]

Damage types are less important in legendary levels (other than no electric for rona), I know desert/dustbone it can be handy for certain combos but it changes from mob to mob, very likely you're fine as you are, and things really change from run to run.

Boots give dodge AC, and many things can give you that, it's easy to get via party or item buffs and I'm sure someone is going to jump in to say which level 40 usable items would have it. Robes usable at 40 may be hard to get, maybe luck on random robes or some D'arquite from Dachy (+13), then by level 50 you can get UR's randomized to +15. But AC shouldn't be a huge concern, especially with the advantage of strongheart.

[tomaan]

The key to your survival as a str monk is concealment.

If you're not getting it from your party you should have empty body active as much as possible.

[chainlink]

Best robes for a level 40 imo are the Uro ones for which you only need the tag, they even give you Epic Will to boost your will saves, you might even find yourself wearing them post 50.

[desocupado]

Use Memnoch's Keeper's UEF or an aug with Aura of vitality. This recovers your Dodge AC with non-moliated harper boots (for some minutes).

About damage, if you make db weapon with Acid Cold Sonic / Neg Pos Div, you are fine in Hells.
If fact, it's better to invest on level 50 Quarterstaff and not worry about the level 35 one.

If anything you can make the level 35 with different damage types from above, like Fire, Elec and Mag.

[gandoron]

rona Qstaff is almost useless now due to the way damage buffs work.

[magecat]

Elaborate, please?

[simpetar]

Missing AC from HS boots is easily recovered by Epic Mage Armor on items. Ashen Shugar's Lifethread is nice and affordable UR belt, or you can use Immo helm. Once you buff yourself, you can switch them for something else, if they do not fit into your gear setup.
On a similar note, Epic Warding can make your life easier in early LLs. This comes on Sash of Elysium, another UR belt. I usually carry multiple copies even in hells and switch as needed, when the buff expires / is eaten.