Okay guys going to be updating the OP today, also placing your ID's, Names, Region in your signature is advised, any specifics that you want noted I'll try to accommodate but it's probably better if it's addressed in your signature.

the armour skill system here is preety confusing, its gunna take me forever to work out the best armourto use, since its better to use peices from different sets rather using all jaggi or a;; ludroth armour for example

I have another question: is it possible to go directly from the village to one of the non-woods areas without doing a quest, just like you can go directly to the woods? Perhaps with the ship?

I'd like to explore those places on my own leisure.

No, it's best to use full sets of armor instead of several parts! Allow me to elaborate:

For instance, each Kurrupeko armor piece gives us 2 points of Defence. When we have a full set of Kurrupeko (5x 2 skill points = 10 points) we unlock the skill itself, Defence Up (S). At 15 we get Defence Up (M) and at 20 Defence Up (L).

Of course, you can have 4 pieces of Kurrupeko armor (8 points) and apply a +2 point Defence Decoration to another pice of armor or your weapon and still unlock the skill. Be wary though, many armors have sideffects as well, for instance my Barroth armor gives me -1 Expert (-10% affinity = 1 out of 10 hits is a dull) so I added a +1 Expert decoration to my weapon to offset that

Later on, **** quests allow you to go exploring and after at least 5 minutes you can return.

well thats kind of what I meant, by using decorations (and charms!) you can unlock loads more skills than simply going for full sets, its just a bitch working it all out

Edit:  here is a late game example. if you used

	Defense	Name	Slots	Gem
	32	Hunter Cap G	OO-	Guard +3
	44	Beriolos Vest G	---	---
	44	Beriolos Guard G	O--	Guard +1
	44	Beriolos Coat G	OOO	Guard +3
	32	Hunter Leggings G	OO-	Guard +3
Charm	Guard +4	Fort Stone	O	Guard +1

Skills: Guard +2, Evade +2

then you get guard + 2 and evade + 2 which you don't get from full armour sets

Mmm, here's my list then, this list is an update to the last one, I have 2 guys I normally play with who are very good players imo.
This list is the completion times it may be indicative of each monsters difficulty.
My weapon is always Bow Gun, current strength is 285 not giving away much more than that ;)
The other guys use Long Swords and the other uses Lance or Long Swords (LS).
The following times include the time it took to run to the monster.

Great Jaggi – N/A
Qurrepeco - 1:15
Royal Ludroth – 2:15
Gobul – 2:15
Rathian – 4:30
Barroth – 7 minutes solo, if you’re a gunner bring pellets for this fight, then send some crags at it legs. If you’re a gunner with some confidence in your job then bring shot 2 and go for its legs.
Lagicarus – 7:00 rounding it up a little.
Boriath – 14 minutes – this guy is pure win, love this fight.
Rathalos – 8:45 (Yes it managed to fly)

Okay after that I’ll say the only one to give trouble or at least for myself would be Boriath, though there was once when Rathalos got very angry after we killed Rathian I guess.
We did three man Diablos but I never kept track of it as it’s pointless to track time on Diablos unless you’re going in raw.

Tips for gunners – Guns are just like lances but your further back, shot 2 is the bread and butter, find a spot that hurt it until its clear you hurt it and then move to the next spot.
Weak Spots
Rathian – Feet and then Head

Rathalos – Head, forget everything else just kill it, it ignores the pain of its wings breaking of skull cracking.

Lagicarus – Depends on your shot, if you’re using Fire then aim for the spine, if you’re using shot 2 aim for its shoulder connecting to its neck or its face, Fire also works on its face but unless you’ve got the entire Valkyrie setup your better off trying to flip it over.

Barroth - As a gunner keep your distance as a hunter stay behind it and go for its legs either way. When you see fumes coming from its head just avoid a lot and get some shots in. I’ve done this without having to pot even, it’s an easy fight but one mistake and your life bar is shot.

Royal Ludroth – Fire shots work or Pierce 2, all face shots means he dies way too fast.
Those are times and tips, this is most definitely not a guide, there’s a lot more to each of these monsters but it should help anyone really.

But for me the most fun I have is on the Boriath fights, watching it jump off walls and stalk people, it moves lightning fast and can easily do ½ your health or instant kill. Great fight with this guy.

I cant find this game in any Mexican store... i hate that...

Actually maybe the Diablos fights were more fun, nothing like seeing tuns of sand being tossed into the air and one of your buddies flailing around about 40 feet above the ground.

That does get me to laugh.

woopah said: routsounmanman said: woopah said: the armour skill system here is preety confusing, its gunna take me forever to work out the best armourto use, since its better to use peices from different sets rather using all jaggi or a;; ludroth armour for example No, it's best to use full sets of armor instead of several parts! Allow me to elaborate: For instance, each Kurrupeko armor piece gives us 2 points of Defence. When we have a full set of Kurrupeko (5x 2 skill points = 10 points) we unlock the skill itself, Defence Up (S). At 15 we get Defence Up (M) and at 20 Defence Up (L). Of course, you can have 4 pieces of Kurrupeko armor (8 points) and apply a +2 point Defence Decoration to another pice of armor or your weapon and still unlock the skill. Be wary though, many armors have sideffects as well, for instance my Barroth armor gives me -1 Expert (-10% affinity = 1 out of 10 hits is a dull) so I added a +1 Expert decoration to my weapon to offset that well thats kind of what I meant, by using decorations (and charms!) you can unlock loads more skills than simply going for full sets, its just a bitch working it all out   Edit:  here is a late game example. if you used   Defense Name Slots Gem 32 Hunter Cap G OO- Guard +3 44 Beriolos Vest G --- --- 44 Beriolos Guard G O-- Guard +1 44 Beriolos Coat G OOO Guard +3 32 Hunter Leggings G OO- Guard +3 Charm Guard +4 Fort Stone O Guard +1 Skills: Guard +2, Evade +2   then you get guard + 2 and evade + 2 which you don't get from full armour sets

Precicely. We all are pretty much at the start of our games, so full armor sets make much more sense. Most people here don't even forge any decorations, so only a full armor set will give them the skill.