I hope I'm not too late to jump in on the discussion.
First I would like to say that you should probably use a lighter hammer. The biggest mistake some beginners make is to get too heavy of a hammer. About 2 pounds or so is a good weight. I recommend using a long handle, so that when you put the hammer head in the crook of your elbow, the handle extends to your finger tips. A longer handle will increase the velocity and the power of the swing. It will save your arm in the long run. The heavier weight of other hammers gets you twice. #1: You have to lift more weight, then #2: It doesn't rebound as much. Another advantage of a longer handle is that you can keep you hand father away from the hot metal. I guess some people like the short, Hofi hammer with a heavy head, but from my experience, the longer lighter hammer is really easier to use and hits just as hard with less effort.
As far as head pattern goes, I like the old Viking/Medieval style. It's fairly similar to an American pattern, which is not too far from the German style. I think that it's all about the look you're going for. Of course, some hammer faces are a little further from the centerline of the handle than others, but each hammer takes a bit of getting used to before they all function the same.