I just upgraded my water poking stick and the next upgrade for it asks for "+" carves of both the Ludoroth and Lagiacros. Now the problem is that i have absolutely no idea how to get those. Is it something they drop when you capture them? Do you need to beat them in the arena? Cuddle them? Knit them a warm sweater? Did i miss the hug button?

haha, when you get to HR 31 online you start getting plus drops. now i haven't gotten that far online yet either so i dont know exactly what that means, but that's what i was told when i asked. i'm guessing just tougher monsters (great).
 
this site is pretty good if you have other questions  http://monsterhunter.wikia.com/wiki/Monster_Hunter_Wiki 
the felyne kitchen skill list comes in handy.

It's exactly like the earlier Monster Hunter games. Once you get to a certain hunter rank, you'll start fighting tougher versions of monsters which give you (mostly) different items.
 
You can't get any +items offline in this one.

" It's exactly like the earlier Monster Hunter games. Once you get to a certain hunter rank, you'll start fighting tougher versions of monsters which give you (mostly) different items.  You can't get any +items offline in this one. "

" haha, when you get to HR 31 online you start getting plus drops. now i haven't gotten that far online yet either so i dont know exactly what that means, but that's what i was told when i asked. i'm guessing just tougher monsters (great).