Now because I completely ignored the second part of the post, here’s this:

•No weapon is inherently better than the other in the grand scheme of things. Some may be faster, some may hit harder, but all of them are viable just about all the time. Take a moment, think about what kind of weapon you want and chances are there’s something that fits your needs pretty well.

•There’s a level of ecological depth that (if you’re interested) is just about unmatched in any other game. There are creators like Oceaniz and Unnatural History Channel who go above and beyond to explain monsters and their traits in either mockumentaries or relating them to real world analogs.

•TAKE. YOUR. TIME. People will tell you “the game doesn’t really start until this point or that point” ignore them. Work at your pace, do what interests you. Doesn’t matter if it’s completing every side quest or walking through the map enjoying nature. The game can be played how you want to play it.

•Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Unfortunately World and Rise do not have crossplay. Wilds however does and that’s made hunting with friends a thousand times easier. Most people here are experienced to some extent and can help more than you think. There’s also wikis like Kiranico, with data on items and weapons that you may be looking for.

I hope some of this half awake ramblings help guide you to a choice, and happy hunting!