General Monster Hunter Thread

[maxterdexter]

Fuck Kushala Daora. Half an hour and who remembers how many resources down the drain for like 4 scales.

[Nekketsu]

Never get into a battle with Kushala Daora without bringing flash pods first. Unless you are equipped with a set that gives you Wind Pressure resistance/immunity.

[Nekketsu]

Arch-tempered Xeno'Jiiva just dropped today. And frankly, I felt like I was facing the G-rank version of the elder dragon, because its moveset has changed quite a lot and even added some new tricks.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

And while we're at it, MHW just won the award for Best Cooperative Game. Congrats!

[Nekketsu]

So, after winning the award to the best RPG of the year, MH producer Riozo Tsujimoto came to the stage with juicy news for us players: in a few days Capcom will make a BIG announcement about Monster Hunter World.

Apparently, they originally had planned to reveal everything during the award ceremony, but stated that what they are planning to announce in the next few days is too big for just words.

The player base is already speculating about the possibility of a DLC expansion.

[andre]

@Nekketsu:

So, after winning the award to the best RPG of the year, MH producer Riozo Tsujimoto came to the stage with juicy news for us players: in a few days Capcom will make a BIG announcement about Monster Hunter World.

Apparently, they originally had planned to reveal everything during the award ceremony, but stated that what they are planning to announce in the next few days is too big for just words.

The player base is already speculating about the possibility of a DLC expansion.

I hope so. I haven't played since Forsaken came out and have contemplated selling it (not just to do so, times have been rough. It survived my earlier-in-the-years need rent money video game purge) Here's hoping whatever they announce is pretty substantial. They've done a great job since launch considering all the new monsters were free, but you keep a game alive these days with meaty, expansive offerings. I'd say a dozen more monsters (if not more) and 4 or 5 new maps would be enough to keep the larger playerbase engaged for another year or more. Also G-Rank. Please G-Rank

[Nekketsu]

Capcom ain't idiots. A game about slaying monsters of all kinds and wearing them as gear has become not only their fastest selling game, but also their best selling one with over 10 million units sold worldwide. They ain't letting that overwhelming success go to waste, and they are really showing it with entusiasts statements like the one they made during the awards ceremony.

[Green_vs_Red]

I still haven't really put the game through it's paces…..thanks to Save The World but hey more stuff to plow through once I stop dicking around.

[Nekketsu]

Welp, you have got me hyped, Capcom.

[Robby]

So I picked this up finally because it was on sale, and I'm going to play with a friend in a couple weeks when we both have time to do so.

Is there any lengthy opening tutorial bits we need to get through beforehand or can you jump into the multiplayer almost immediately?

[tatermoog]

@Robby:

So I picked this up finally because it was on sale, and I'm going to play with a friend in a couple weeks when we both have time to do so.

Is there any lengthy opening tutorial bits we need to get through beforehand or can you jump into the multiplayer almost immediately?

siiiiiiigh

SO multiplayer in MHW is fantastic and wonderful and the best multiplayer experience I've had in years

but it is incredibly clunky to get started, especially in early story progression.

First, you need to make sure you're in the same session. At the earliest stages, I'd just either start my own or form a squad in the Gathering Hub and load up into the Squad Session every time.

Then, there are two main varieties of mission in MHW, Story Missions and all the side-quest/exploration stuff. Generally speaking, you can all load into a mission for the latter and then leave at the same time. On Story Missions, however, you've got to get through any story content individually before you can add in other players, which means you usually have a cutscene a few minutes into the mission that you need to clear.

What ended up working for me and my brothers/father was all starting the same Story Mission individually, waiting until we had the option to send up a flare (meaning you can request multiplayer support), then backing out and joining the last person to reach that stage. It's extraordinarily clunky, yes, and it takes a few minutes, but it works.

Mainly, don't get discouraged with the awkwardness in the early going. It's legit amazing, but there's a certain level of feeling like early PS3 days trying to get a multiplayer session together that works.

[Nekketsu]

Save the multiplayer for when you get to High Rank. Or at the very least, till you make it to the first stretch of the Low Rank missions. That's my recommendation.

Also, if you sight something that is pink and has furr over, fucking run.

[maxterdexter]

Better yet, run from everything that the game doesn't tell you to kill.

[Robby]

@Nekketsu:

Save the multiplayer for when you get to High Rank.

The entire point is to have a game to play with my friend that isn't Dark Souls 3 or Warframe or Overwatch or Rocket League, things we've mined at length already.

Not waiting to get to late game to play with my friend.

[tatermoog]

I played the entire game with my four-man family squad. It had a learning curve, but it was perfectly fine and a blast. The High Rank stuff makes it easier, but there's still plenty of fun to be had in Low Rank. And there's always some also-fun single-player grinding to do between multiplayer sessions.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

also, they just announced their traditional big expansion, Iceborne, which is due in fall of next year.

Sounds like it's the G-Rank/Ultimate expansion as well.

[Nekketsu]

@tatermoog:

Sounds like it's the G-Rank/Ultimate expansion as well.

It is. Much like how they didn't name MHW MH5, they are calling this one Iceborne (sounds cooler) instead of Ultimate Expansion or something along the lines. The best part is Ryozo didn't say this would be the last major title update.

But enough chit-chat, here's the teaser for those who didn't watch.

[tatermoog]

Robby, you got any sense of what weapon you're going to run, or are y'all going in completely blind?

[maxterdexter]

Oh, advice from a 100 hours newbie, try them all but pick one or two. Each weapon is a whole character, some of them are compatible in style and gameplay, but overall they are very distinct.

Also, don't start to collect armor until you unlock high rank. Low rank armor is a newbie trap, just get the ones that help you survive and advance, but do not go collectionist with them, as they unlike the weapons aren't upgradeable into the better equipment and you can't get the materials back.

[Nekketsu]

Robby, I don't think you could have chosen a better time to start playing the game, now a massive expansion (yes, stated in these words) has been announced for Autumm 2019, and all the stuff that will be coming while we wait for it.

[NateRich]

'New quest rank' must mean G rank. So that's already pretty huge without even factoring in new maps and monsters. Good timing avoiding the start of next year when a bunch of anticipated games come out.

[tatermoog]

so my brother had a hard-drive crap out on PS4 and not very up-to-date Cloud Saves, so he lost over half of his progress. After this announcement, we're all going to start from scratch and main different weapons. Should be about caught up by the time the expansion hits. Pretty excited.

[Nekketsu]

!

Anjanath and Girros G armor sets. And that new viking-like armor looks so dope.

[F13rC Pulse]

Hoping for many new exciting turf wars.
Can't wait for more news on this expansion, Smash Ultimate should make the year fly by for this.

Shame about the main game and how it'll be bereft of all the G-Rank goodness (finalized weapons/armors) and roster, but I guess it'll make the expansion just that more enjoyable.

[Nekketsu]

@F13rC:

Hoping for many new exciting turf wars.
Can't wait for more news on this expansion, Smash Ultimate should make the year fly by for this.

And KH3, and DMC5, and GE3, and ToV remaster… so many options.

@F13rC:

Shame about the main game and how it'll be bereft of all the G-Rank goodness (finalized weapons/armors) and roster, but I guess it'll make the expansion just that more enjoyable.

But this is an expansion that adds to the main game and continues the story from where it ended, as opposed to how they used to do until Generations, by launching the full game again with the G Rank and all at full price.

Or did I just read your post wrong. What did you mean with "bereft"? That we have to wait almost a year to taste all the goodness of G-Rank and such?

[Robby]

@tatermoog:

Robby, you got any sense of what weapon you're going to run, or are y'all going in completely blind?

My friend, knowing in advance that its useless, will be using the bug weapon. They have a thing for bugs.

From what I remember playing the demo a year ago I'll probably go sword and board, dual blade, or bow. The big giant slow weapons don't do much for me.

[Nekketsu]

Make sure to choose variety when upgrading your weapon. For example, I wouldn't upgrade two similar weapons that require the materials from the same monster, if you don't want to have to slay many of the same kind in hopes of obtaining the materials that are needed.

[maxterdexter]

@Robby:

My friend, knowing in advance that its useless, will be using the bug weapon. They have a thing for bugs.

From what I remember playing the demo a year ago I'll probably go sword and board, dual blade, or bow. The big giant slow weapons don't do much for me.

The bug weapon is not that bad, just let them know that while jumping around is cool, they could do more damage from the ground with the same weapon.

I went sword and shield, and I enjoyed it a lot, good combination of speed and damage, semi-reliable jumps, blunt and sharp damage and the versatility of using items with weapons out, that last one eluded me, but you as a team player might find better uses for it.

[F13rC Pulse]

@Nekketsu:

But this is an expansion that adds to the main game and continues the story from where it ended, as opposed to how they used to do until Generations, by launching the full game again with the G Rank and all at full price.

Or did I just read your post wrong. What did you mean with "bereft"? That we have to wait almost a year to taste all the goodness of G-Rank and such?

I am aware of Ultimate editions of old, was just saying the main game will remain a fairly smol from where it started content-wise, though with its gameplay/environmental advancements I still consider it well worth.
Perhaps I'm just hyped that it'll be a very big advance from the relative size of World compared to 4U and GenU.

Since we can already see the glorious G-Rank armors, I'm at least expectant for sizable broadening of the monster roster with more newcomers, oldcomers, and variants all around as is G Rank tradition.
We got Nargacuga, so we can at least assume Barrioth and Tigrex are shoe-ins (possibly even Ukanlos and Akantor), maybe even a new user of their variation of the Wyvern Skeleton.
Then there's subspecies we haven't gotten for old monsters like Jade Barroth and any of the new monsters like Anjanath, Odoggo, and Bazel.

And I'm anticipating for G-Rank weapons to escape the samey weapon designs most trees end in.

I do wonder what they'll do with gear that surpasses the Augmented state…

[Nekketsu]

@F13rC:

And I'm anticipating for G-Rank weapons to escape the samey weapon designs most trees end in.

I'm fairly certain the only reason many weapon designs look the same is because they are actually not finished. I know that because, for example, the Tobi weapon tree Gunlance and Bow acquire unique designs, while the rest of the weapons are stuck in the "base weapon with monster materials arranged over" phase.

---

It's actually funny. I've lost the count of how many times we've discussed about the existence of an ice environment in this thread. And now they finally gave us that, along with the G Rank and all the stuff that an Ultimate expansion of a MH delivers.

[tatermoog]

@Robby:

My friend, knowing in advance that its useless, will be using the bug weapon. They have a thing for bugs.

One of my brothers ran almost the entire main game with bug glaive and did quite well. There are some pretty good sets for it. Plus, it looks fun as hell.

From what I remember playing the demo a year ago I'll probably go sword and board, dual blade, or bow. The big giant slow weapons don't do much for me.

Dual Blades were my main backup. They're a little simple, but don't thing anything in the game quite tops landing a good sliding attack on a big critter with those. Bow is a solid, wood-burning weapon. Sword and Shield is vastly underrated.

[Nekketsu]

Guys, put the trailer in slow motion when the Narga shows up. The trail its glowing red eyes left behind actually spells a "G", very clever.

[Nekketsu]

Out of curiosity to those that play it on console. What you prioritize when playing: resolution, fps, or graphics.

[tatermoog]

@Nekketsu:

Out of curiosity to those that play it on console. What you prioritize when playing: resolution, fps, or graphics.

Resolution. Framerate didn't seem like it make as much of a difference as it usually does. Not sure if it locks it at 60FPS even with that boost.

Have settled on Great Sword for my new run through the game and it's pretty amazing.

[Nekketsu]

I was hesitant to try out resolution, because usually more res means slower frames. To my surprise, it actually runs smoother than with the graphics specs.

[Nekketsu]

Beautiful. Easily among my top MH themes.

[Robby]

Played for a couple nights now with my friend. We're not too far in. Farmed the shit out of Jagras which is clearly early game's bitch, moved onto the raptor bird thing a couple times, and will attempt the big monsters of the area tonight probably.

I'm leaning strongly into the bow, but it's kinda gimped at the moment since I can't make the specialty arrows in any sort of quantity, or at all. I also like the hammer.

Charge blade seems interesting, if a bit overwhelming… and I need to try the bowguns some more. Some of the other weapons seem interesting and I'll try them eventually but I wasn't getting much from them in the practice range. Its hard to judge since everything plays pretty differently and has different mechanics. But whoever thought putting attacks into hitting two buttons at once was a good idea should be slapped.

Getting the online to work is way more of a hassle than it should be, but we seem to have it figured out.

[tatermoog]

@Robby:

I'm leaning strongly into the bow, but it's kinda gimped at the moment since I can't make the specialty arrows in any sort of quantity, or at all.

My father mained the bow for our first run. He really enjoyed it, and it's actually a very viable solo weapon, but was a little one-note for me. FWIW, he switched to Dual Blades for this run and says he's having much more fun.

I also like the hammer.

Hammer is great and probably has the most passionate fanbase. Also gives lots of those crunchy epic moments. Really doesn't function at all the way I would have thought when I was first trying out weapons.

Charge blade seems interesting, if a bit overwhelming…

I'm at a point where I think Great Sword is more viable for the same sort of thing, but having run Charge Blade for 200 hours or so, it's pretty great. Very risk-reward-y, and some genuine epicness when you manage to pull off a full discharge as something is trying to take you out. Think it is far away the most micro-manage-y and complicated in its basic mechanics. Hell, I just found out you could block into a SAED yesterday, and my brother had no clue you could charge the sword like you do the shield until last week.

Getting the online to work is way more of a hassle than it should be, but we seem to have it figured out.

Our second run just got halfway through the story yesterday and it gets much easier then. Lots more investigations and optional quests that you can jump in from the beginning. Also, once you get a ways in, recommend sending off an SOS Flare and filling out the party at the beginning of missions. Game is at its best in a full squad, community is still shockingly pleasant, and the higher rank monsters are still a challenge regardless of party makeup.

[Robby]

Well, I thought this weekend me and my friend would be taking on the big t-rex thing, but nope, not quite. Flying electric squirrel dragon instead.

Tobi-Kadachi is easily my favorite monster design so far. Shame the armor it makes is so lackluster looking.

Also really weird that an electric monster is weak to water attacks. I know, only a couple elemental types to go around, but still weird.

[maxterdexter]

I blame Pokemon. Some systems make fire and water weak to eachother, some make electricity short-circuit and hurt the electric creature.

[Nekketsu]

After the "pickle" jokes were acknowledged, there comes the deadliest iguana.

[andre]

@maxterdexter:

I blame Pokemon. Some systems make fire and water weak to eachother, some make electricity short-circuit and hurt the electric creature.

I feel like the most logical thing would be for them both to weaken the other.

[F13rC Pulse]

Even with a seemingly concrete roadmap until Iceborne, they kept a surprise under their belts with a new monster invading from the Witcher series!
Leshen and Ancient Leshen, very interesting picks since they aren't very beast-like, but looks like they made a fun moveset for it.

[tatermoog]

Leshen is single-player only (and it's shocking how well they follow the Witcher formula for the quest), but sounds like the Ancient Leshen next week may be multiplayer.

[Robby]

What rank do you have to be to do that quest? Still working my way through, slowly, since me and my friend can only play a few hours at a time on weekends, and I'm busy anyway. Still haven't gotten to the +equipment and high level monsters yet. (I know that's like, rank 11?)

Still not high enough to do the Horizon quest, which dissapoints me, though I do have my kitty dressed as a Zoid now. (Sadly its kind of… the worst armor defense wise?)

Tobi Kadachi is still by far my favorite. I have so many armors and weapons from him, I feel bad.

[maxterdexter]

It is the awful part of this game, that if you love a critter design, you have to kill (or capture and somehow non lethaly extract it's heart) for armor and weapons.

[Greg]

Still haven't gotten to the +equipment and high level monsters yet. (I know that's like, rank 11?)

spits drink across room, through the wall, across town, around the globe, into orbit, past Mars, pierces the limit of the known universe

[Robby]

@Greg:

spits drink across room, through the wall, across town, around the globe, into orbit, past Mars, pierces the limit of the known universe

I only just started the game. And I've only been playing it with my friend for a couple hours on weekends.

I didn't pick it up a year ago like everyone else did.

[tatermoog]

@maxterdexter:

It is the awful part of this game, that if you love a critter design, you have to kill (or capture and somehow non lethaly extract it's heart) for armor and weapons.

there's a definite disconnect between how the narrative treats the critters and how you actually treat the critters

[maxterdexter]

Some of them make the most pitiful noises when near death.

Like, I'll kill the elders and rathalos like whatever, but poor Dodogama..

[Nekketsu]

Jagras, Kulu, Dodogama or Kadachi, are some of the non malicious species you can encounter. They would rather mind their business than tackle you. So is natural to feel bad for hunting them.

[maxterdexter]

The flashy boy is annoying but he's so helpful against skin dog or the ice dragon. Or the goddamned asshole pidgeon dragon.