I've added a few of people from here onto my PSN friends for teaming up at some point.
I should hopefully be okay when I take on Nergigante, already killed him/her once (do we know monster genders?) when I joined someone else on their optional/investigation mission.
Just going to upgrade my sword a bit before the mission to maximise damage, so I'm currently farming Paolumu... Legiana is such a nuisance when you're farming other monsters in high rank with the constant ice being thrown in every direction.
On a side note I'm really loving the Plunder Blade, shame it takes the spot of the Vigorwasp Spray but it does mean I can upgrade my gear a little quicker.
Really like the Vitality Mantle as well, it makes a great buffer for when you just want to get in a monsters face and go on a full assault.