Monster Hunter Frontier

[WhiteShark]

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► Friends

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► About

What is Monster Hunter Frontier?

Monster Hunter Frontier is an MMOish entry in Capcom's Monster Hunter series. It was originally released in 2007 for Windows, but later it also received releases on Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PS Vita, and PS4. Service officially ended in 2019 after more than twelve years, numerous expansions, and two rebrandings: Frontier G and Frontier Z. Fortunately, fans have kept it alive by creating Erupe, a server emulator that's able to emulate different eras of retail.

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How does it play?

Frontier runs on a modified version of the second generation (2G/Freedom Unite) Monster Hunter engine. If you've played Freedom Unite, you'll feel immediately at home. If you've only played later iterations, it will probably feel a bit barebones in its weapon selection and in some of its movesets, but it's elegant and fun in practice. If you don't know anything at all about Monster Hunter, it's a 3rd person action game about going on hunts to fight giant monsters in order to butcher them and make arms and armor out of their corpses. There is very little animation cancelling and some weapons are quite slow, leading some to feel that the games are 'clunky', but it's all about forcing the player to learn the monsters and act deliberately instead of reactively. You can think of it as a series that's 70% boss fights and 30% preparing for boss fights: gathering materials, crafting equipment, and inventory management. You can see some gameplay down in the Videos section.

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On which server are we playing and why?

After careful consideration, I've decided to start us out on Forward Fivers Official Discord. It's one of two servers dedicated to running the oldest version of the game, Forward.5, still available. As new layers of endgame content were added over the years, Capcom streamlined the process of reaching it. Thus, what was once a difficult journey in the early eras became flyover territory by the time the game ended its life as Frontier Z, the rebranding it received with the final major expansion. With that in mind, I picked an early era server for the classic experience.

Forward Fivers was chosen over the other server for several reasons: its community is reportedly more active; its version of Erupe is more up to date; the admins work to add things like old event quests and obscure mechanics lost from later eras; it allows access to some of the pay-to-grind-less components―the game was designed to make f2p players endure a very painful grind―that the other server doesn't; and the owner of the other server was apparently caught giving players who boosted his Discord server in-game benefits.

As an added bonus, in the unlikely event that we end up running out of stuff to do on Forward.5, it's possible to have the admin export our saves and take them to a server running a later version of the game, allowing us to try later era content without losing our progress.

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► Setup

Installation

1. Add the following to your hosts file:

   Code: Select all

   129.153.57.148 mhfg.capcom.com.tw
   129.153.57.148 mhf-n.capcom.com.tw
   129.153.57.148 cog-members.mhf-z.jp
   129.153.57.148 www.capcom-onlinegames.jp
   129.153.57.148 srv-mhf.capcom-networks.jp
   
   129.153.57.148 l2.mh-frontier.jp
   129.153.57.148 l.mh-frontier.jp
   129.153.57.148 u2.mh-frontier.jp
   129.153.57.148 u.mh-frontier.jp
   129.153.57.148 sign-mhf.capcom-networks.jp

   • On Windows, the hosts file can be found here: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
2. Download and extract the Forward.5 client:
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   • I didn't have this issue, but there was a warning that antivirus software may try to eat the exe, in which case one would need to extract it to a folder excluded from antivirus intervention.
3. In \f5, rename mhl.dll to mhl.dll.original.
4. Download the English locale patch and extract to \f5.
5. Download the English translation patch and extract to \f5, overwriting several files in \f5\dat.
   • WARNING: Apparently no in-game dialogue is translated, only menu items, equipment names, etc. This means that the entire tutorial is untranslated. I will try and figure out a solution for you guys later.
6. In \f5, rename mhfo.dll to mhfo.dll.original.
7. Download the Rasta contract patch and extract to \f5.
8. Optional: download the image quality patch and extract to \f5.
   • I installed it and ran around for a minute. I'm not sure what, if anything, was different, but something felt off to me, so I uninstalled it. I'm just putting it here in case someone else wants to try it.
9. Optional: replace the Xbox button prompts with PlayStation button prompts:
   1. Download this edited mhf.bin.
   2. In \f5\dat, rename the preexisting mhf.bin to mhf.bin.original.
   3. Place the mhf.bin you downloaded in \f5\dat.
10. If using one, prepare your controller.
11. Run mhf.exe.
12. Enter any username and password. These will become your login information, and the client won't remember it for you, so make a note of it.
13. Make sure Server 1 (サーバー1) is selected and connect.

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Configuration

At this point, you should be at the main menu. If you're playing on controller, you will want to go into the options and adjust things before you continue. Please note that the key bindings menu seems to only allow mouse input, so don't fret if your controller doesn't work there.

1. Go to Options -> Key Settings(?).
2. Click the Type button on the right side and select Portable Mode.
3. Click the arrow at the top right until you're in the gamepad button assignment screen, then go through and assign your buttons to match the onscreen layout.
   • For me, the directional inputs were assigned correctly by default, but my triggers and face buttons were all mixed up.

Your controls should now work exactly as they did in the console games.

Now, create your character and enter. The menu will default to the new player zone; go ahead and accept. An NPC will want to take you on a tutorial hunt. This is a good opportunity to make sure your controls are working correctly. Frontier has a couple cluttery UI elements enabled by default: the F Key Display (the blue boxes at the bottom left) and the Travel Arrow (the green arrow in low-center area of the screen). The F Key Display is irrelevant if you're playing on controller, and the latter is just unnecessary. To turn those off:

1. Press start to open the menu.
2. Select Options.
3. In Display (Gen, Quests), turn off F Key Display and Travel Arrow Display.

Next, you may want to turn on the grind reduction options that were originally paid features. While in Mezeporta, open the in-game chat (L2+R2 on controller) and input the following in separate messages:

Code: Select all

!course hiden
!course netcafe

There's also a Premium course (!course premium), but that one is on by default. All the courses can be enabled and disabled freely, so you can turn them off later if you decide you don't want them.

You will also want to intialize gift storage so that you can receive rewards from your stamp card and server events. To do this:

1. Go to the Workshop and talk to the Equipment Store NPC on the far right.
2. Select the following options: Open Gift Storage > Use Item Storage.
3. Select Item Box.

Gift storage is now initialized. You can close the menu and leave.

Lastly, if you want the server to print your clear time in the message log at the end of each hunt, input '!timer' without quotes in game.

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► Videos

Solo Gameplay

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Group Gameplay

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► Information

Links

• Forward Fivers Discord (also linked previously)
• Ferias English Project
• Fist Mirror
• @wiki (Japanese)
• Weapon moveset tutorial playlist (not all moves shown are present on F.5)
• Armor set templates doc
• MHSX2 FW.5 (Armor set search program for F5; partially translated)

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Tips

• You can add a new character to your account by putting a + after your username when logging in.
• You can skip the Workshop forging animation by pressing cancel.
• You can skip the hunt ending camera by pressing select.
• Carving goes slightly faster if you crouch first.
• Many quests are seasonal. If you can't find a certain quest, check whether it's for a different season on Ferias.
• It's recommended to make your halk dragon element for certain elder dragon breaks that require dragon damage and paralysis for its usefulness.
• Buildup toward inflicting a status ailment decays over time, so try to apply it as rapidly as possible.
• Your manager will give you ten extra points for every 100(?) HR you gain. Spam dialogue with her until she gives them. The points store up, so you can't miss them accidentally.

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Daily Checklist

• Halk potion from halk area
• Points from manager
• Gift from manager (after giving her any item followed by any item of rarity 5 or higher)
• Daily present from pink shop lady
• Daily bonus from pink shop lady
• Daily present from hunting clan shop cat
• (Weekly?) HL and EX stamp from guide lady

[WhiteShark]

Feel free to suggest anything you think should be in the OP. I still don't understand many of the Frontier-specific subsystems myself, so it's surely missing things. I've only done a couple hunts so far.

@Alberto Pizzaolla, I made the thread. @A Chinese opium den, it should have everything you need to get the client set up.

[Vergil]

Hmm this one looks like an actual video game.

[WhiteShark]

Hm. So, @AlbertHeinous, with all three courses on, I got to HR 10 on my third hunt (1 -> 2, 2 -> 5, 5 -> 10), and that's including the tutorial hunt. Too fast? or will it slow down considerably soon?

[Alberto Pizzaolla]

Hm. So, @AlbertHeinous, with all three courses on, I got to HR 10 on my third hunt (1 -> 2, 2 -> 5, 5 -> 10), and that's including the tutorial hunt. Too fast? or will it slow down considerably soon?

Did you mean to tag me?

Also it's not too fast at all. The game goes up to HR 999 and there's also style rank or SR, which also goes up to 999.

[WhiteShark]

Hm. So, @AlbertHeinous, with all three courses on, I got to HR 10 on my third hunt (1 -> 2, 2 -> 5, 5 -> 10), and that's including the tutorial hunt. Too fast? or will it slow down considerably soon?

Did you mean to tag me?

Uh, yeah. I've become too accustomed to autocomplete. I have brought dishonor upon my clan.

[Alberto Pizzaolla]

I would say that while Forward 5 is probably worth experiencing, ZZ is still the better game. The exclusive monsters, weapons and new mechanics introduced in Frontier's G rank are all crazy fun, especially for people who have played MonHun before and are looking for something fresh.

[WhiteShark]

I would say that while Forward 5 is probably worth experiencing, ZZ is still the better game. The exclusive monsters, weapons and new mechanics introduced in Frontier's G rank are all crazy fun, especially for people who have played MonHun before and are looking for something fresh.

I'm spiritually committed, and so is everyone else because I made the OP. Post your F5 username so I can put you on the list. We'll get to ZZ later.

[Alberto Pizzaolla]

I would say that while Forward 5 is probably worth experiencing, ZZ is still the better game. The exclusive monsters, weapons and new mechanics introduced in Frontier's G rank are all crazy fun, especially for people who have played MonHun before and are looking for something fresh.

I'm spiritually committed, and so is everyone else because I made the OP. Post your F5 username so I can put you on the list. We'll get to ZZ later.

Perhaps when we all max out in F5 we can have our saves transferred over to a ZZ server.

My username is Ignika

[WhiteShark]

Perhaps when we all max out in F5 we can have our saves transferred over to a ZZ server.

Yes, this possibility is what ultimately made me decide to try F.5 first. I want the whole journey!

[Finarfin]

Alright, I set everything up I think and made my character and selected my weapon (Heavy Bowgun)

[Vergil]

Alright, I set everything up I think and made my character and selected my weapon (Heavy Bowgun)

More like heavy BLOWgun cause it sucks oh!

[WhiteShark]

Alright, I set everything up I think and made my character and selected my weapon (Heavy Bowgun)

More like heavy BLOWgun cause it sucks oh!

At least in the other ones I've played, HBG was fastest weapon for killing many monsters. Good choice, but takes some getting used to, and benefits a lot from proper armor skills.

Anyone who wants to hunt with me, ping me in chat to get my attention. Just type 'WhiteShark'; don't use the Matrix ping because it won't notify me.

[Finarfin]

Alright, I set everything up I think and made my character and selected my weapon (Heavy Bowgun)

More like heavy BLOWgun cause it sucks oh!

At least in the other ones I've played, HBG was fastest weapon for killing many monsters. Good choice, but takes some getting used to, and benefits a lot from proper armor skills.

Anyone who wants to hunt with me, ping me in chat to get my attention. Just type 'WhiteShark'; don't use the Matrix ping because it won't notify me.

I know Server 1, but is the whole room choice important? I am in the newbie one

[WhiteShark]

I know Server 1, but is the whole room choice important? I am in the newbie one

Entering Newbie World traps you there until you hit Hunter Rank 3, but, if you turn the extra courses on, you'll get that on your second hunt, so it's no big deal either way.

[Alberto Pizzaolla]

What times do you guys usually play? I wanna catch you all on.

[WhiteShark]

What times do you guys usually play? I wanna catch you all on.

I don't think there's an established usually yet. I was waiting today for @Vergil to ping me for a hunt in chat, but I guess he was busy. I'm pretty much open from 9 AM to 3 PM PST usually. Later than that and I may still be available, but I've generally been playing FFXI with @Kalarion and @J1M in the evenings. Sundays I have church, so I probably won't be available until after 3 PM PST. I've been avoiding playing by myself to avoid accidentally racing past the newcomers, but I've been itching to play, so I may just get started anyway.

[Finarfin]

Seeing as I've never played the old MH, doing rookie quests should be a good idea right?

[WhiteShark]

Seeing as I've never played the old MH, doing rookie quests should be a good idea right?

Yeah, just do whatever to get a feel for the game. If you take on something too hard and fail, well, that's a learning experience too!

[rusty_shackleford]

You know what looked cool? Those monster rancher games. I always think of them when I see monster hunter.

[WhiteShark]

A guy on the Discord made a patch for me that replaces the Xbox button prompts with PlayStation ones.

1. Download this edited mhf.bin.
2. Go to \f5\dat and back up the preexisting mhf.bin.
3. Place the mhf.bin you downloaded in \f5\dat.

I'll add this to the OP, too.

[WhiteShark]

It turns out you can't use the Rasta system (basically, getting an NPC clone of a real player to help you in missions) without another patch. I've added it to the setup instructions in the OP.

[WhiteShark]

I tried to do the HR 40 urgent mission earlier, which takes place on the Tower map, but I got stuck in Area 10 because, for some reason, upon entering, a boulder spawns at the only entrance, and there's no other way to leave. Someone on the Discord confirmed that this is 'normal' and not a bug. The only options are to use a farcaster to return to camp, suicide via barrel bombs, or retire from the mission. I did the latter.

Also, for any prospective players, don't be fooled by the lack of activity in this thread: everybody on the list in the OP has been playing at least a little most days. @A Chinese opium den, I eagerly await your joining the roster. @Boontaker, you're welcome to join us.

[Tweed]

You know what looked cool? Those monster rancher games. I always think of them when I see monster hunter.

Aren't those the ones where your monsters die of old age?

[WhiteShark]

I tried to do the HR 40 urgent mission earlier, which takes place on the Tower map, but I got stuck in Area 10 because, for some reason, upon entering, a boulder spawns at the only entrance, and there's no other way to leave.

It turns out this is because the monster will eventually go there and it becomes the final arena. I didn't realize that because I followed the NPCs in my party got there much earlier than intended.

[Vergil]

This game desperately needs better feedback for things in combat. It really is like playing Dark Souls against some of the quicker enemies with no lock on and less responsiveness. There's some enjoyable core gameplay but it feels really unpolished and so much of the game still being left untranslated also makes it hard to want to interact with/learn any of its other systems.

[Finarfin]

Yeah, the feedback of your attacks is something that is lacking in the beginning. You do notice alot more feedback when you get better weapons though, I suppose it makes sense but it's still a bit ******. But overall Monster Hunter is a fun series (Atleast from the ones I played I didn't have any problems with them. They were all fun no matter how "old" or "new")

[Vergil]

Yeah, the feedback of your attacks is something that is lacking in the beginning. You do notice alot more feedback when you get better weapons though, I suppose it makes sense but it's still a bit ******. But overall Monster Hunter is a fun series (Atleast from the ones I played I didn't have any problems with them. They were all fun no matter how "old" or "new")

Weapon upgrades won't change the lack of healthbar so you have zero clue how much damage you're doing or how close to the end you are though.

[Finarfin]

Yeah, the feedback of your attacks is something that is lacking in the beginning. You do notice alot more feedback when you get better weapons though, I suppose it makes sense but it's still a bit ******. But overall Monster Hunter is a fun series (Atleast from the ones I played I didn't have any problems with them. They were all fun no matter how "old" or "new")

Weapon upgrades won't change the lack of healthbar so you have zero clue how much damage you're doing or how close to the end you are though.

That's true. I'm not sure if the older games have it but world and rise iirc show you that the monster sustained damage by making the monster have scars all over. I know playing dozens of games at the same time sucks but world would be good for you since it has the same gameplay but with a bunch of QoL. (I know some guys here don't like quality of life but still)

[WhiteShark]

Yeah, the feedback of your attacks is something that is lacking in the beginning. You do notice alot more feedback when you get better weapons though, I suppose it makes sense but it's still a bit ******. But overall Monster Hunter is a fun series (Atleast from the ones I played I didn't have any problems with them. They were all fun no matter how "old" or "new")

Weapon upgrades won't change the lack of healthbar so you have zero clue how much damage you're doing or how close to the end you are though.

@Alberto Pizzaolla was saying that there's more hitstop the more damage a hit does, which I've noticed, too, and you can also gauge it based on how many hits to the same body part it takes to make the monster flinch.

(I know some guys here don't like quality of life but still)

Contrary to what has been said here and in chat, I don't 'hate' quality of life, but the lack of health bars is a deliberate design choice to support the atmosphere of the game. Likewise, target lock, aside from taking away from player skill by removing the need to aim your attacks, simply wouldn't be very helpful. Monsters generally have 5-8 separate body parts, and they're sometimes big enough that even locking on to the center of a body part wouldn't do you much good. You often want to position and aim differently in different circumstances; depending on attack, target, and timing, there are circumstances in which facing the target head on will ultimately result in a whiff. It's pretty common on hammer to start the △△△ combo angled a bit to the left to make sure the big swing from the right at the end doesn't swoosh above the target on accident.