12th Toycon Philippines

Last June 14-16, 2013, the much awaited event of all toy collectors and hobbyists: Toycon PH was held again at Megatrade Halls 1 and 2 in partnership with HERO TV.

It was my first time to attend this con since I was busy during college with my acads, and everytime I’d be invited by my friends– schoolwork just piled up.

But this time, its a different scenario 😀

Since I wanted to hoard a lot of toys at this con, I briefed myself with the event… the schedule, what to expect, what should I buy, how much should I allot for my toys (cause I might overspend. Well you know… This is Toycon afterall!) what to do when I’m in the event area– I’m not geeking out am I? But its better to be prepared than to get caught off guard.

and so for Day 1, I went there around 6:30PM with my officemates and we scoured the place before buying anything. Price check and look around before buying anything! That’s step one. The place was damn big and your eyes will totally wander with every booth… left, right, my eyes can’t even keep up.

We tried our best to scour the event hall for toys we are targeting for. It was a tricky task since some toys (from a favorite anime, or some cute plushies) would be displayed in a booth and you’d think of buying it. And after an hour of looking around, we decided to split up and buy our targeted toys and figs.

Sarah and I spotted Threadless booth, under Filbars and they were selling this awesome Doctor Who shirts featuring Disney Princesses: Belle and Cinderella entering the Tardis and a crossover of east and west with Superman perched on a Gundam’s shoulder.

“Come Away With Me” shirt from Threadless

“Iconic Friends” shirt from Threadless

Really cool right? Well enough of the wall of text. I’ll just supply you with images from Day 2 (didn’t have much shots in Day 1 since we wanted to look for available toys there– and was saving all the fun for Day 2 with boyfie).

Day 1 hauls :3 – Inori nendoroid from Wasabi Toys, Poring Keychain and Cat keychain

Day 2 Photos:

We went as early as possible to avoid the cosplayers crowding in the event area and toy booths and around lunch we managed to get out of the hall just in time they were entering the hall. There are few good ones but I didn’t really go there for cosplayer hunting so I snapped just a few pics.

Real-life Figurines from Mark OSR’s display

Other photos

World class cosplayer, Jia Gold Bustamante

Free Coca-cola mismo for all con-goers! 😀

Master Pogi at 99.5 Play FM booth 😀

 

My hauls for Day 2:

Inori with her new sister, Asuna :p

 

Blackest Night Blue Lantern Flash, Good Smile Company Sword Art Online Asuna nendoroid, cat plushie, Pasig2 comics with Taga-Ilog’s autograph, Black cat ears and paws, Comodo era Ragnarok Online Poring plushie, Stitch keychain, plus an old issue of Shonen Jump (not included in the photo)

Overall it was a good experience. Looking forward for the December version of Toycon! 😀

 

 

AME 1UP

It was my first time to go to UP AME and well.. I enjoyed it a bit after a long time of hiatus on going to anime conventions around the Metro. Well actually my main priority here was to hunt down cute anime stuffs and yukatas/ kimonos for sale– since I’d be needing one for Bon Obori this March 2.

There were disappointments of course. First is the venue.. which I thought, UP AME would be occupying the big part of WTC– but then, when I got there the tent greeted me LOL.

Line to the ticket booth was so-so around noon since I forgot my umbrella and it was scorching hot. While I was waiting in the line, I’ve observed pretty decent cosplays around..

When I got in I kinda got claustrophobic– even if I’m not. @_@ Maybe its the throng of people or how booths were placed? Idk meh :s

But as I went around, I got to see these good cosplays (and intriguing ones too :3)

There was even a time when the electricity suddenly went out and everyone was like “woooooooooooooh!!!”– until I realized there was an on-going League of Legends Tourney at that time at the event.

Foods were good by the way- only I was trying my best to resist them since I’d be eating them again next week– and I don’t wanna feel picky or something next week at the festival.

Overall it was a “meh” to “okay” experience. I do hope they’d upgrade the place to a reaaaaaaaaaaaaally bigger spot. I’d love to return again 🙂

Razel Ann as lolita doll (right)

Marvin Tayong as Choji from Naruto with my best friend Gin

pRO Midgard Congress 2013

EDIT: The information you are about to read has been given permission by the GMs of Philippine Ragnarok Online to be blogged that’s why they called ALL guildmasters AND BLOGGERS to come and join them in the Midgard Congress.

Here are the contents and photos of the recent Midgard Congress of Philippine Ragnarok Online for the year 2013, held at Jollibee Makati. We were served with meals as we went through the updates for this year (yes! a meal! cause we had spaghetti, chickenjoy, softdrinks, fries and sundae @_@)

thanks for the food! :3

Admin Sohee of Ragnarok Valhalla Server page and valhallians

GM Aeon and GM Geheimnis

A. SERVER MERGE UPDATE

Just to clear things up there’s no announcement of P2P going to happen, just merging between Valhalla and New Loki.

click photo to view the news about NL + Valhalla server merge

B. CONTENT PIPELINE FOR 2013

Episode 27: Bifrost

Date of Release: January 23, 2013

Phase 2: The New Hypermarket Shop

Episode 27.B: Meow Meow Island

-Also called as the “Malangdo Island”.

-Accessible by Premium accounts.

-According to GM Aeon, if you’re into making money, chances are you’d earn a lot from the loots from this island.

-There are special cash items in this island that cannot be found on the Hypermarket Mall.

Episode 28: Rise of the Ninjas

Target Launch Date: June 2013

Sakray Launch Date: April 2013

-Formerly known as “Eclage” based on my previous post regarding Midgard Congress (see Midgard Congress 2010)

Episode 29: The Valkyrjas

Phase 1: The Opening of Bio Labs (Lighthalzen Biolabs 3)

-The strength of the bio labs monsters depends on your party (I just overheard this).

Phase 2.A: Level Expansion

-From Base Level 150 to Base Level 160.

-New yellow aura for Base Level 160 achievers.

-There will be a deduction of 1% exp for every time you die in leveling maps if you’re already base lv. 160. (No deduction of exp in towns of course).

Phase 3: Tutorial System for New Users

-A much improved and user friendly tutorial system for first time players of Ragnarok Online. There will be more quests added to the usual tutorial.

Phase 3: Upgraded WoE

-Limited siege war between 1^st and 2^nd job characters of base level 1-99.

-Map structure will be same as with Valkyrie realm.

-There will be rental items for low level users who are in need of good items.

-Original WoE TE only God Item creation quests are available.

-Will be integrated in the next RWC as well.

*if you like the idea of the upgraded WoE, it is advisable to keep a lvl. 99 character ready 😉

Coming Soon: Sakray F2P Server

C. DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR 2013-2014

1.        Cash Item Expansion

Heads up for those who like their characters to kick ass on WoE or PvP or just show off their characters’ costumes! Gravity is planning to improve the costume system—but right now they’re still developing the costume headgears. Sweet right?  I wonder if there will be costume scarves like the Gryffindor scarf soon? :3

Target Implementation Date: 4^th Quarter of the year or 2014.

2.       Phase 2.B: Level Expansion

BLvl. 160 ain’t the end yet folks! Gravity is planning to do a 2^nd level expansion: BLvl 160 to 175 and JLvl 50-70. There will be new skills for each job to be added as well.

3.       Hero’s Trial Introduction

Remember the Ragnarok Manhwa by Lee Myoung Jin that we used to read? Well Gravity’s bringing back our beloved heroes on this episode in continuation of the story. There will be 3 phases in this episode; all containing quests and well, 3 kinds of memorial dungeons.

4.       New Class Introduction

Upon the arrival of the 3^rd jobs, the ninja, gunslingers and soul linker classes have faded into the background due to the imbalance of the skills— but then here’s a good news to all le gunslingers fanatics out there! Gravity has unveiled the 2^nd job of Gunslingers called the Rebellion (which has a totally badass sprite don’t you think?)

Target Implementation: 2014

5.       UI Upgrade

Phase 1: Quest Alarm – modified quest interface that will remind you of your unfinished and ongoing quests.

Target Implementation: 2013

Phase 2: Improve graphic engine

Target Implementation: 2013

Phase 3: New system interface

6.       Raid System Introduction

If you’re familiar or playing with other MMOs out there you might like this new raid system wherein high level players (over lvl. 150) can raid castle nightmare dungeon. There will be two modes: wave and nightmare mode and will encourage party system.

———————

Regarding the suspended cards issue, there won’t be any compensation according to GM Aeon, since all other LU! games are affected as well and not just pRO. If you wanna follow up with your suspended cards, you might as well file a ticket via their Customer Support so as to replace your suspended pin with a new one.

As for korean rice cakes, they will be account bound for F2P servers.

Meanwhile on the international players’ issue with connecting in the game cannot be disputed since due to license issues.

Lastly, as for RO2: Legend of the Second, we might as well wait on LU! Live according to GM Aeon. (Hmmm.. are they planning to unveil it there?)

To cap off the meeting, the new pRO GMs are unveiled (and a shocking revelation that GM Aeon will be saying goodbye to the Ragnarok community this year)

The new pRO GMs are:

GM Fenris

GM Geheimnis

GM Anael

GM Faith

GM Garrick

GM Vazilos

GM Sophiel

We’ll miss you GM Aeon!

pRO New Loki and Valhalla Server Merge

 

And so, the so-called “Eclipse” was finally unveiled awhile ago at the Midgard Congress held at Jollibee Makati by the pRO GMs: there will be a server merge of New Loki and Valhalla. A lot of you are probably wondering what’s the end result of this server merge, well, it’ll be a bigger New Loki community (that’s right, goodbye to my very own server, Valhalla 😥 ) due to issues with the population as stated by GM Aeon.

Why retain New Loki instead of Valhalla which is older by years you ask? According to them, this was based on an alphabetical order of the server names (which I don’t really get a lot).

Anyways, here are the additional details or things you should anticipate on the upcoming server merge (to be announced by GMs). I highly suggest you read ALL of it even if you’re not in a guild.

Accounts

-There will be no splitting of accounts.

-Accounts will have 18 character slots for limited time. After 1 week, the extra 9 character slots will be disabled and all characters will be deleted.

-Character slot change will be enabled for limited time only. e.g. you wanted to move your RK beside your RG, you may do so. But those characters only from that account.

Storage and Inventory

-All accounts will have an increase in storage space for a limited time:

*Premium users will have an extra 600 storage space (1200 total)

*Non-premium users will have an extra 300 storage space (600 total)

-Items in Kafra and Inventory will still have the limit of 30k maximum per item. So if you have more than 50k Yggberries in your Kafra, say astalavista baby to the  20k—unless you distribute it to different characters or put it in your merchant classes’ carts.

-Items remain as is in your kafra and inventory except for emperiums.

Character Names

-Characters from Valhalla will have a suffix added to their name.

-NL characters will keep their original names.

-Characters with suffix have 1 week to change name through the name change button in the character select screen. You can only change name once. And once you changed your names, the suffix will be removed.

-In case you weren’t able to take advantage of that 1 week free name change, a name change event after server merge will be announced.

ROK Points

-Rok points will remain in your accounts.

-Kafra pins will be reset.

-All memos will be deleted.

Quests

-All completed quests will not be affected

-Players should still be able to continue unfinished quests.

Guilds

-ALL existing guilds will be deleted. Meaning, all guilds from NL and Valhalla will start from scratch; go find an emp, make a guild and expand the guild level.

-ALL emperiums will be deleted.

-Godly items won’t be deleted.

-Agits will be reset.

Others

-All rankings will be reset: alchemist, etc.

-Suspended accounts from both servers remain as is.

-Valhalla client will be redirected to New Loki client according to Gravity so there’s no need for you to download a new client or get NL client.