So I picked this game up Saturday, and am up to HR7. I've been dipping into this thread from time to time since the game came out, and I think someone said not to farm too much when you're low. I did farm the monsters in the Ancient Forest a few times, because Anjarnath owned me the first time I fought him. Otherwise I haven't farmed anything else except TziTzi-Ya-Ku (cause I keep running into him, and he's easy to kill).
I just had to use an SoS Flare to kill Paolumu, and then afterward I was fighting Radobaan and took too long, so he ran away from me. I'm using the Insect Glaive, which seemed like a pretty cool weapon when I started. Haven't tried any others yet. The Insect Glaive seems kinda difficult to use. I'm still figuring out how to get the buffs quickly, but sometimes I seem to be right on bosses and completely miss with the L2+Triangle move, and since I miss so often with it, I haven't been able to hit the R2 button often to complete the combo and get the buff. Instead, I dash away a bit and do L2+Circle to get the Kinsect to bring me the buff.
After Radobaan got away from me I thought maybe I needed to upgrade some armor. After a night's sleep, however, I'm thinking I was too passive against him. I mostly let him come to me, trying to avoid his roll and then attacking him when he came out of it. I'm about to give him another try and go a little more HAM. I believe I'm using Barroth helm, a couple of Pukei pieces, and a Tobi piece for armor, and I've got the T4 Pulsar Rod.
Any tips or advice are welcome. I've tried to attack this game as a single player challenge. I figure anything can be killed solo, so that's what I've attempted. Friends have been online a few times and we've done some investigations, but for assignments I've only called help for Paolumu (which seemed like a counter to my Insect Glaive) and the Mudkip guy because he was annoying.