Looking at this list
http://divinewh.im/w/hm/
It seems like all the hammer trees end up with pretty good damage compared to each other, so does it matter too much which ones I work for? Obviously some will be better than the others.
YES
once you start getting into higher level quests you'll learn to stop caring about raw damage output and start caring about elemental damage.
For MH3rdP i have elemental boost armour per element + high level Great Sword to match because the damage you do based on element is way higher when used against monsters weak to that element.
Ultimately, if you're going to -really- get into the game you have to start thinking about multiple weapon paths and which upcoming key quest monsters you'll need to take down and what monster/equipment is going to make life easier (though i do accept that hammer users can also go down the KO route).
I was wondering (and sorry if this has been asked/covered before), if we get MHP3rd HD for Vita:
1. Would anything stop us from being able to use our old MHP3rd saves from PSP (like you can on the PS3 version)?
2. Would anything stop us from being able to play locally with people on both PS3 and PSP (again, like PSP and PS3 version can play with each other now)?
3. What are the chances of Vita supporting Ad-hoc Party? I realise PS3 currently requires a wired connection for this, but I never really understood why...
If AHP is supported, even on a standard wi-fi model, you could theoretically rock up at your local Starbucks and play 'online'.
1. You can copy over your PSP data obviously so as long as there was no block on allowing you to use that save data (and given that's what happens with the PS3 version) then you should be able to drop straight in.
2. Again, you can play a mix of PS3 and PSP with MHP3rdHD on PS3.
3. One advantage of MH3rdG on Vita -and- PSP is if there Vita version has Ad hoc party built into it.
Personally? I'm hoping the next game is Vita exclusive and it's -not- a 3G revision, but rather the start of a new portable Sony series. Basically so that we can have Nintendo having one monster hunter strand and Sony having another but with big enough differences in content so that i'm not repeating if i switch between both. THis way Sony and Nintendo fans get to play MH, but MH fans get to play double MH!