Field Surveys and Hunting Monsters Between the Main Story Line.

[FoxyBox]

I've seen a lot of people say this game "forces you" to do story quests. I don't know, maybe it's because I've played a bunch of JRPGs and MMOs, but it became pretty obvious to me that by following the little check list on the top right of the screen it would lead me to "Chapter X: [insert mission name]" popping up on the screen. This is the MSQ or Main Story Quest part of the game and yes it's going to put you on rails, yes it's going to make you experience the world on the back of a Seikret, yes there's going to be talking.

Between these missions you can and will have ample opportunity to do Optional Quests and Field Surveys. Field Surveys are where the exploration in this game really shines. There is no farm box in this game (at least that I'm aware of, 15 hours in), so it's the only way you're going to get rare and necessary crafting materials and some of them are well-hidden. You can drop a pin on anything you've discovered by walking nearby and the Seikret can take you there but you're free to hop off the Seikret at any time and free roam. There's tons to discover if you just take the time to look. Pretty sure a sweet gathering spot of mandragoras in the forest is actually inaccessible by Seikret, too.

There are times between MSQ chapters that you can't open the World Map and go free roam but you can still do Optional Quests in biomes that the world map says you can't go to.

I've already done a lot of "fashion hunting" and the last new monster I hunted was Rompopolo. Maybe I'm not good at MH games but Alpha Doshaguma carted me once. Both Rey Dau and Uth Duna came close to knocking me out too. So I went hunting for materials to get better armour and had plenty of freedom to do so. Along the way I found a lot of neat places, hidey holes, and pop-up camp locations. The game gives you the freedom to play how you want. If you're just following the instructions of "Talk to Alma" and carrying on when she asks you "are you sure you're ready" then hey, that's on you.

I honestly think that exploration in this is on par with World, maybe not as good due to the loss of tracking monsters by picking up their footprints and gashes etc. The Seikret is just the tailriders you unlock by doing Grimalkyne quests, but apparently a lot of World players never did those quests.

IDK this is just food for thought and some venting. If you can't identify an obvious "this advances the storyline, only talk to this NPC when you are sure you are ready" thing in a JRPG I don't know what else to tell you.

[lolschrauber]

What I don't like is that it feels like you can just rush through the story without any optional quests and it's just cutscene, auto-ride your seikret to the spot where you then kill a big monster, repeat.

I think being forced to do a certain amount of sidequests and surveys to unlock big monsters and story missions actually felt better, because you'll actually have more of an incentive for going out there to explore more. Seeing big monsters on the minimap all the time is also kinda boring.

I think world did a good job where you eventually revealed one as opposed to having to mark a monster after finding it like older games. That was a good middle ground.

[ThëMīghtyPándā]

the pacing does feel like you're being shoved from one boss to the next, this is similar to how it is in RISE, World had much better pacing. World was also much harder. Probably due to the AI hunter helping you too :p

[FoxyBox]

Originally posted by ThëMīghtyPándā:

the pacing does feel like you're being shoved from one boss to the next, this is similar to how it is in RISE, World had much better pacing. World was also much harder. Probably due to the AI hunter helping you too :p

Both Rise and World have NPCs shouting at you/reminding you every time you enter the village to continue on with the main quest. This is standard fare for MonHun. Wilds is a more immersive experience so I can see why people feel "rushed" or "forced" to carry on but honestly you don't have to.

[FearedNightmare]

Originally posted by Red Fox:

I've seen a lot of people say this game "forces you" to do story quests. ...

That's how it has always been in Monster Hunter, since the first game.
You have a story running you through low and high rank and then comes the end game where you choose what to fight.
It seems that people that complain have a wrong understanding of what the game is.

You can ofc always just freeroam and kill monsters there

[FoxyBox]

Originally posted by lolschrauber:

What I don't like is that it feels like you can just rush through the story without any optional quests and it's just cutscene, auto-ride your seikret to the spot where you then kill a big monster, repeat.

I think being forced to do a certain amount of sidequests and surveys to unlock big monsters and story missions actually felt better, because you'll actually have more of an incentive for going out there to explore more. Seeing big monsters on the minimap all the time is also kinda boring.

I think world did a good job where you eventually revealed one as opposed to having to mark a monster after finding it like older games. That was a good middle ground.

I agree here.

I got to a point yesterday where a tutorial popped up and said "You can now accept optional side missions from characters!" and like.... nobody was there to offer me any quests or missions. Two cutscenes and MSQ quests later and I found a scientist at Base Camp who wanted me to find some endemic life out in the desert. No idea what the critter looks like or where to find it so I shelved it. I have not seen a single NPC since then who would give out anything optional. Some rewards like increased cooking capabilities were usually the incentive in previous MH games and that's just... missing here. Or maybe I'm not talking to people properly? Idk it feels lacking.

You're right with this. More side missions and rewards for doing them is desperately needed.

[FearedNightmare]

Originally posted by Red Fox:

etween Field Surveys are where the exploration in this game really shines. There is no farm box in this game (at least that I'm aware of, 15 hours in), so it's the only way you're going to get rare and necessary crafting materials and some of them are well-hidden.

After completing low rank and doing some side missions I found that there is a way to have an auto gather like system enabled similar to the farm box.
In the forest there's a wudwud that asks for a congolala pelt, if you complete that mission you can ask them to gather herbs or mushrooms similar to the farm box.

[Nafen 🐱]

Originally posted by lolschrauber:

I got to a point yesterday where a tutorial popped up and said "You can now accept optional side missions from characters!" and like.... nobody was there to offer me any quests or missions. Two cutscenes and MSQ quests later and I found a scientist at Base Camp who wanted me to find some endemic life out in the desert.

If I remember right, by the time I got this tutorial pop up about optional side quests I had already completed two(or more?) of them, a simple one teaching you about fishing and the other one being the endemic life one you mentioned :P I've since gotten another one about fishing and another about endemic life, they seem pretty repetitive and bleh to be honest.

[FoxyBox]

Originally posted by FearedNightmare:

Originally posted by Red Fox:

etween Field Surveys are where the exploration in this game really shines. There is no farm box in this game (at least that I'm aware of, 15 hours in), so it's the only way you're going to get rare and necessary crafting materials and some of them are well-hidden.

After completing low rank and doing some side missions I found that there is a way to have an auto gather like system enabled similar to the farm box.
In the forest there's a wudwud that asks for a congolala pelt, if you complete that mission you can ask them to gather herbs or mushrooms similar to the farm box.

Oh sweet, good to know.