Monster Hunter World Catch-All

I know solo is working fine.

And I don't actually know how much MP I would play but I like to have the option.

Correct - online play requires PS+ (a la Xbox Live Gold on this side).

farley3k wrote:

I know solo is working fine.

And I don't actually know how much MP I would play but I like to have the option.

Unlike the previous titles(which had separate progression tracks for MP and SP, and MP was tuned for 4 players), you'll be able to do pretty much everything in the game pure SP. Some of the top tier endgame stuff might be borderline impossible, but it's definitely possible to get through the entire storyline and the credits SP.

WizardM0de wrote:

Thanks for these writeups. I’ve mostly been a Longsword and Hammer player so had to dodge my way through all of these fights. I’m tempted to get back into the game and try out Sns or Lance to feel what battling monsters with proper defense feels like.

I had a lot of fun running heavy bowgun with one or two shield mods, the Kadachi Lion line in particular. It's been a long time since I played, but I recall being able to tank a lot of blows. Diablos became a joke.

I'm always down to MP again if someone needs/wants help on the PS4. Just add me. I stopped just shy of the Kirin, and trying to knock out Lunastra.

Still early game, something omnipresent stopping me progressing much past coral, can't put my finger on it. I think it has something to do with me having gone solo up to this point because my friends have not got a clue what a good game looks like.

Anybody want to join me and usher me onwards? I don't want you to hold my hand, I'm a REAL boy, live in the UK, Scotland to be precise, but I am a ok (with job) dude despite that.

Gruf22 on PS4, Come play it sucks somewhat solo

Farley3K just gifted me this (on XBox) as my secret Stanta.

Installing it now.

Any tips?

What follows assumes you've never played MH before. My apologies if this isn't the case.

Change the camera mode to "target", otherwise you'll get a Dark Souls / Legend of Zelda style lock-on, which seems nice in theory but is actually very frustrating in practice because:
- the monsters are large and agile, meaning your view will bounce around like crazy
- the monsters have weak points that the lock-on doesn't identify

In contrast, "target" mode will aim the camera at the monster whenever you tap the left trigger, provided you've "selected" the monster by clicking the right stick. This is preferable because you don't always want to be facing the monster when attacking or simply negotiating terrain.

I also highly recommend watching some weapon tutorials, because every weapon has a distinct control scheme. I suggest videos by Gaijin Hunter and Arekkz Gaming.

Other than that, go in with the expectation that things won't immediately click. There are a lot of systems to learn and combat is nuanced. You will get confused and you may also get frustrated with some online guides and references when they assume you already know what you're looking at. You'll have more fun with the mindspace that learning the game is also playing the game.

With that said, MHW is the best iteration in the series in terms of explaining itself in-game, by far.

By all means, ask questions. I'm pretty sure the series is intentionally designed to encourage discussion.

I'll also advise not being too focused on the combat aspect of the game. That's the crunchiest part with the most depth, but it's not the only thing in MHW and doing well in the other parts makes the combat better. Sometimes being a hunter is about fishing, talking to blacksmiths, and exploring the map for no particular reason. Just get out and go around the map and be in it. Collect herbs. See the sights. Catch pets.

You would think these activities would be entirely separate from the combat, but you'd be wrong. Many combat and hunting advantages are given to the well-rounded and diligent hunter.

My girlfriend I have spent the holiday going through the Arena counter together for the first time. ITs been a nice change of pace, and has finally pried her fingers off the hammer. I love the hammer too, but its important to have some weapon flexibility when facing certain monsters.

Definitely. I used to main Light Bowgun and SnS, but I mained Charge Blade for my PC playthrough of the campaign, just so I don't need to be in the monster's face all the time. There's something to be said for hard hitting weapons.

I'm struck by how the game frames and portrays monster hunting. Make no mistake, this is a dragon-hunting game. Yes, the makers wanted to move away from that so they intentionally named it "monster hunter" and made non-dragon monsters the focus - specifically wyverns. But the end-game is still dragon-hunting, and your end-game equipment makes you look remarkably like a knight.

Having said that, while the game TELLS you the monsters are natural disasters and they are undoubtedly very hazardous for any people who might be around them, the game SHOWS you that they're important part of their respective ecosystems and that they experience hunger, pain, desperation, and even delight and nature enjoyment. Unlike many games in the same category, it manages to make you feel sympathy and even pity for the monsters you're slaying. And it does this purely through gameplay and visual depiction. There's no smarmy backstory to an Anjanath, but when you see it limping through the forest and flinching at every blow of your axe, you can't help but feel a little sorry for it.

I have little doubt that all this is expressly intentional. They want to make you feel the effect of what you're doing, which is, after all, killing living things. Yes, you can cap them. I prefer to do that, actually.

Yup, capturing is preffered. I think you get one more "carve" from capturing vs killing. Still makes you kill the Dragons though -- those are also the monsters that seem to actually have negative character traits. Well minus Luna and Teo who seem to be minding their own business. But Xeno, Nergi, and Vaal all seem like actual threats to either humans or the ecosystem.

LarryC wrote:

They want to make you feel the effect of what you're doing, which is, after all, killing living things. Yes, you can cap them. I prefer to do that, actually.

Case in point: one time I accidentally killed a Mizutsune instead of capping. I felt bad.

Atomicvideohead wrote:

Yup, capturing is preffered. I think you get one more "carve" from capturing vs killing. Still makes you kill the Dragons though -- those are also the monsters that seem to actually have negative character traits. Well minus Luna and Teo who seem to be minding their own business. But Xeno, Nergi, and Vaal all seem like actual threats to either humans or the ecosystem.

Indeed, in the case of Deviljho, the actual main point of it is as a threat to the ecosystem.

Ted wrote:

What follows assumes you've never played MH before. My apologies if this isn't the case.

Change the camera mode to "target", otherwise you'll get a Dark Souls / Legend of Zelda style lock-on, which seems nice in theory but is actually very frustrating in practice because:
- the monsters are large and agile, meaning your view will bounce around like crazy
- the monsters have weak points that the lock-on doesn't identify

In contrast, "target" mode will aim the camera at the monster whenever you tap the left trigger, provided you've "selected" the monster by clicking the right stick. This is preferable because you don't always want to be facing the monster when attacking or simply negotiating terrain.

I also highly recommend watching some weapon tutorials, because every weapon has a distinct control scheme. I suggest videos by Gaijin Hunter and Arekkz Gaming.

Other than that, go in with the expectation that things won't immediately click. There are a lot of systems to learn and combat is nuanced. You will get confused and you may also get frustrated with some online guides and references when they assume you already know what you're looking at. You'll have more fun with the mindspace that learning the game is also playing the game.

With that said, MHW is the best iteration in the series in terms of explaining itself in-game, by far.

By all means, ask questions. I'm pretty sure the series is intentionally designed to encourage discussion.

Thank you. I am getting this via a new video card and am looking for my series intro (beyond the Wii demo of Tri that I bounced off of). I'm sure I'll be back. How soon am I going to feel a need to group up?

mrtomaytohead wrote:

Thank you. I am getting this via a new video card and am looking for my series intro (beyond the Wii demo of Tri that I bounced off of). I'm sure I'll be back. How soon am I going to feel a need to group up?

Welcome aboard!

I'm not surprised you bounced off the Tri demo. The same thing happened to me, albeit with Freedom Unite. With the exception of MHW (somewhat) and Monster Hunter Stories, the demos for various MH installments have been awful for giving new hunters a true feel for how the games work. You're just thrown into combat with no context. It's like watching a highlight reel of a sport you don't understand.

YMMV with regards to grouping up. The vast majority of my time with the game was solo but teaming up with folks I know was a lot of fun, too. Sufficient knowledge and merely adequate skill (*cough* like me) will see you through the campaign solo.

Thank you. I am getting this via a new video card and am looking for my series intro (beyond the Wii demo of Tri that I bounced off of). I'm sure I'll be back. How soon am I going to feel a need to group up?

Welcome aboard! I'm a fellow newbie who bounced off Monster Hunter Tri. If there's anything that's annoying you or giving you trouble, feel free to ask. I'm deep into the endgame now. On my second account. It's been awesome. I'm roxlimn2k on Steam, so friend me up and ask me for assists when you're hitting walls. Walls are a thing in MHW. These are gear or skill checks. You will not succeed at them unless you're doing it right, and the game isn't very forthcoming about feedback, so you'll need to get it from a third party observer.

Do record yourself going up against a wall if you feel the need. Sometimes, strategic and tactical mistakes can be easier to spot when you're not absolutely in the thick of trying to stay alive.

Any XBox folks in here with a guild?

Wow. Arch-Tempered Vaal Hazak is savage. I carted. A LOT. SOS doesn't help because everyone carts liberally. This is on PC, though. I'm assuming most MH vets are playing on consoles. I did manage to finish the quest once on solo.

Kulve Taroth is live now on PC. Get yer golden weapons while you can. It appears to be the standard version, not the AT version, and lots and lots of people are just not particularly savvy about what to do, so please have some patience for new PC players. I just came from a siege where I was basically the only person trying to get the horns off in Phase 4. It was rough.

The MHW Appreciation Fest starts next week! During the following month, most of the Event Quests will be available, so if you missed any equipment quests last year or during the Winter Festival, this will be a good time to get it.

For those itching for carts, the Arch-Tempereds and EX Behemoth will also be available, so make sure to tell your Palicos to ready the stretchers! Many groups in general are revving up to have a go at these tougher quests, so if you don't have all the tickets, you might be able to hitch a ride on a forum or group lobby and most of them will be glad to have you along.

LarryC wrote:

The MHW Appreciation Fest starts next week! During the following month, most of the Event Quests will be available, so if you missed any equipment quests last year or during the Winter Festival, this will be a good time to get it.

For those itching for carts, the Arch-Tempereds and EX Behemoth will also be available, so make sure to tell your Palicos to ready the stretchers! Many groups in general are revving up to have a go at these tougher quests, so if you don't have all the tickets, you might be able to hitch a ride on a forum or group lobby and most of them will be glad to have you along.

I have a few of the archtempered beasties to best yet, so this should be fun!

LarryC wrote:

itching for carts

I wonder if I can make this my guild card tagline?

On PC also? I've been busy with other stuff the last 2-3 months.

Yes, The Appreciation Festival will be concurrent on PC and most of the content will be available on all platforms.

The Appreciation Fest is live!

Get your Layered Armor!
Get your Fireworks!
Get your ROCKET POWERED GREATSWORD!
See Great Jagras take his revenge on Deviljho!

It's a pretty nice event.

For all you fans who are interested in gathering a metric crap ton of decos, The Greatest Jagras is veritable deco feast. My first run, I got 34 decos. Most of them are mid level-worn, I think, but that's about what you get from the Melder, so Greatest Jagras is incredibly generous!

Woo! Got credits finally on PC. I need to hurry to 50 for that Jagras event. I am not looking forward to the double Beez & Tempered Kirin quests...

The greatest jagras fight had me cracking up.

I just hit HR... lol I'll never hit 50 at this rate.

Are there any special dual blades event quests I should seek, or should I just keep grinding? (Working on a wiggler head next time I log on.)

Looks like the Witcher Event might have a high end Dual blade in a few weeks with the Cirilla part of the event.