Just like our Cosplayer Babe Celyne, we go overseas as far as Ohio, USA to be with our latest Ragna Babe. Please welcome this huntress from Valkyrie Server and prominent poster of Ragnaboards, Prinsesa! Come now and jump!

Tell me something about yourself.
My name is Rika, and I’m turning 21 this coming 8th of April. I currently reside here in Ohio, USA.

What servers did you play in?
I played in Chaos before. I’m currently active in Valkyrie.

When did you start playing Ragnarok Online?
June 14, 2003. Yes, I know the exact the date because I recently found a dusty screenshot - my first screenie!

How did you start playing?
I was a regular chatter on mIRC (#weareanime on DALnet). Several of my chatmates introduced me to Ragnarok and invited me to play. I got
interested so I started looking for the installer. Turns out one of my highschool friends had the CD, so I borrowed it. I installed it and tried
it out. I asked another classmate (IGN: Oaka III) to play with me. We were an acolyte-archer combo. We got addicted, and now the rest is
history.

What for you are the best features of the game?
Probably what attracted me the most was the whole MMORPG idea. I enjoy interacting with people online (which explains my past chatroom
addiction) and I also love playing computer games (Back then I played a lot of Counter Strike). Ragnarok = chatting + games. Best of both worlds. The being able to go on adventure and explore numerous maps is also a great feature which made me want to stick around.

Unlike now, the point of the game for me before was not to level up, reach 99, and have great items and equipment. It was to walk around, see “new places”, and enjoy the company of fellow players. Instead of warping from Payon to Prontera or to wherever, we preferred to take our time to walk and enjoy the scenery (hmmm.. okay that’s our excuse for being short on cash, too, haha). Finally, Ragnarok’s cute sprites really stole my heart. I mean, how can you not fall in love wih those pink bouncing jello porings?!

What’s the name and job class of your main character? Why did you choose that character?
Name: tari saralonde
Job: Hunter

The name “tari saralonde” is my elven name according to an elven name
generator I googled (OT: “googled” is now an official verb XD). I became
an archer because I was recommended to do so after I did that test by
that NPC you talk to during training.

Are you active in any guild?
Illuminati ™

Where’s your favorite hangout spot in Midgard?
Southwest Prontera, just a little bit north of the market. I sometimes hang out in Al De Baran. Right side, beside the tree. XD
What’s your best memory from playing Ragnarok Online?
I can’t pick one, there’s too many!
- First time I saw a poring and killed it. I called myself “the poring
murderer”.
- When the pet patch came out, my first pet poring, “baby ni tari”
- Being a noob with a rainbow build. (Str = 20. Agi = 20. Dex = 20.
Int = 20. Vit = 20. Luk = 20.)
- Picking up my first card (Kukre Card).
- Going on adventures and taking pictures
- First snow in lutie
- Making my first million
- Changing jobs from novice to archer, archer to hunter
- Getting my dream headgear, Big Ribbon. (which was hacked. T__T)
- Waking up at 3am when the population is <1000 so there’s less lag.
- Making new friends!!

Are you also playing other games if ever? What games?
Yes. Utopia: http://games.swirve.com/utopia. A geeky text-based game that not much people know about. I also play DOTA and RAN Online (but not much now). I turn to O2Jam Malaysia when Valkyrie is down.

Aside from gaming, what are your other endeavours in life?
I’m currently studying in Wright State University. I am planning and praying (please pray with me XD) to pass the MCATS and be accepted in a
Medical school someday.
What keeps you busy nowadays?
Aside from school and games, I am the official chauffeur and errand girl of the househould. I don’t go out to party that often. That’s pretty
much it.

Do you believe that Ragnarok is just a game? Or is it something else? Why?
For me it’s more than a game. It’s a chance for me to reconnect with my fellow Filipinos, with our culture, with our country - all of which I
miss deeply.

Has Ragnarok Online affected your real life? Why or why not?
Yes. Ragnarok takes up a huge bulk in my schedule, so it has affected me a bit. It has relieved much of my real life stress, even if sometimes
it does the exact opposite. I don’t let it interfere with the other aspects of my life, though. I NEVER let it be in the way of my grades. I still do my household chores and I don’t stay up too late.

Any final words to the Ragnarok addicts out there?
Play hard, but play in moderation. Use your brains to set your priorities. Never compromise your schooling just to play. Don’t cut classes and
all that jazz. That’s just stupid. Spend some money on the game, but not too much. Always be respectful and don’t be bashful.

Don’t swear. Don’t discuss inappropriate topics. Aside from it being so uncool, there are little kids playing this game, too. We don’t want them learning foul attitudes. Don’t stay up too late. Not only will it mess with your body clock, it causes pimple break outs, too. Don’t murder the Filipino and the English language. Treat everyone as a friend and I assure you, no one will treat you like an enemy. Lastly, always remember to smile! (Just don’t let anyone catch you smiling in front of the PC by yourself. You’ll look weird.)