It’s always fun to explore a different genre. I don’t shoot a lot of B&W, so I’d be curious what you discover is helpful. What I do know is that contrast is key, and that includes how colors will convert.
When it comes to HDR, I really like Jimmy McIntyre’s methods that only require PS. (These random programs that merge multiple images using presets and millions of sliders just turn true photography into art.) I recommend digital blending. This article was super helpful for me: http://iso.500px.com/digital-blending-tutorial-creating-clean-natural-hdr-images/