Help me gear for my next and final monk life

[Darkrok]

I'm just about to make the final push on my fighter life for a 3rd (and last) life monk. I'll have past lives of fighter and monk, obviously 36-point build, all classes available. I'm definitely leaning in the wis-based with the strength for vorpal strikes direction. Probably want to do Half Elf with Cleric Dilly...I could be persuaded to go human and do the UMD dance again but I think I'd rather avoid it this time.

I don't play a ton anymore so I don't really want to spend time farming tons of gear...especially since the end-game now can replace most of the gear for people that are more casual (like I am now).

I'll list the leveling items I have available below. I also have a high 80's/low 90's crafter that can send some stuff over to this toon and love the cannith challenges so I can farm up whatever makes sense for the next life. Not a lot of plat though so anything that's costly is probably out.

Head: Minos, Tereza's Perfect Sight
Necklace: Tier 2 and 3 Silver Flame, Oremi's
Goggles: Tharne's
Trinket: Voice, Kaelth's Touch, Head of Good Fortune that could be upgraded, maybe a Nimble Trinket.
Robe: Garments of Equilibrium, DT'd with 10%amp/20%amp/haste guard, VoD banishing robe, can farm up any level frozen tunic if it made sense
Cloak: GS +6 charisma skills, +150 spell points, wizardry vi, haste guard (used for UMD mainly), GS +45hp earthgrab guard
Bracers: Jidz-Tet'ka, willing to farm Thaarak or the cannith challenge ones if they'd make sense before I TR.
Belt: Knost's belt, can farm spare hand belts and plan on it at least for certain level ranges
Rings: Tumbleweed, Katra's Razor Wit, Level 16 tier 1 ring of the stalker (can farm others), Holy Burst Kyosho's ring and Shocking Burst Draconic Ring
Boots: GS +45hp earthgrab guard (duplicate of the cloak)
Gloves: Devotion gloves from Reaver quest, Maenya's Iron Fists
Wraps: Vampiric Stonedust and a slew of other useful wraps (every level range up to 20 for the Mabar wraps, etc)

I've got access to a few level 20 goodies as well (upgraded cove gloves, level 20 mabar cloak off the top of my head). I'd prefer not making another GS item...I still owe some scales to a friend from before I took my break so don't really want to remake stuff. I'd love a Smoke item but doubt I can make that right now. Other than that or a MinII (both of which would be great in the boots or head slot) what makes the most sense with those resources? As I mentioned, I'm more than willing to farm up whatever items make sense from Cannith challenges and can craft most of the useful non-flexible items with Masterful Craftsmanship shards in them. Just looking for the right direction to take this gear for a Wis/Str based monk. Also, some feedback on Light/Dark for leveling and at cap would be helpful. I've not played a dark for any extended period of time...going to sample it at level 18 on this life as a 12 fighter/6 monk...but both of them sound very fun now.

[fool101]

I really liked the 12f/8m dark monk dwarf I played last life. My current life is going back to 12m/8f for the improved evasion and ToD (and abundant step) things that I kind of missed in my mostly fighter life. But the 12f dark monk was great for soloing due to the shadow fade/stunning improvements in both dwarf and fighter/kensai.

But I digress. Since you like the challenges the Rock boots should probably be on your list of equipment. Also I know many people like the frozen tunic. Personally I prefer DT armor still, mostly because I often ran in fire stance for ki regen (didn't need the extra ki from Frozen Tunic as much). I also used the outfit from VoD (with banishing fists) quite a bit. The challenge Bracers of Wind could be a nice replacement for the Jidz as well but when in fire stance I also still use Jidz bracers. For gloves I think the PDK knight gloves are not too bad although I don't have them yet.

anyway, not a complete answer, but my 2cp

[Darkrok]

Gah, long reply got eaten there.

I'm getting ready to switch to dark with both stuns for my level 18 run so I'll get to check that build you mentioned out.

I like the rock boots but don't think I can fit them full time. Definitely good to have a pair around though...probably make a level 10 set and a 16 set or a 12/16 set if I can't be bothered to go T3.

I forgot to mention I have the VoD robe and I love tossing it on too. I don't really have any ki problems this life but I might going pure dark next life...if I do I might farm up a frozen tunic at that point (since I'll likely be going earth stance on the pure life) but I feel the same way on the robes - DT'd with amp is very nice and things like the VoD robe on a situational basis are very powerful.