BLAZBLUE INFO. & OTHER TIME-PARADOX BUFFOONERY

By

DJ Date Masamune

But First, Disclaimers ~^.^~

• Panel will be available online as well as a list of all my resources

• On my blog as a .pdf

• Will go live post-con

• Contact info./handouts

• I have handouts w/ links to my resources page, the panel, contact info, etc.

• Take a business card/handout before you leave

• Definitely take one if you have ANY feedback

• Even if you leave mid-way, feel free to get one before you go

• You have plenty of time to ask questions/make comments, so fire away!

Motto Disclaimers ~~^.^~~

• Don‟t be “That Guy”

• Please understand I‟m tots open to feedback/suggestions. If you wish to avoid a face-to-face, you have my e-mail, Tumblr, blog, & a lot of other methods to tell me something

• Just make sure you mention what you liked/didn‟t like & (if applicable) ways to approve

• You win no points for claiming “I know more than the panelist/the panelist didn‟t know what she was talking about”

What to Expect

• Will be using a decent amount of TvTropes terms, so don‟t be afraid to ask me what I mean if you have no idea what I‟m talking about

• Unfortunate happening with TvTropes: assume everyone knows TvTropes >.>

Most importantly..!

• Panel will focus mostly on story, background, character motives/backstories, etc. but will also somewhat cover game mechanics & such when appropriate

• i.e., don‟t expect a 30 minute rant on how Nu-13 was broken in Calamity Trigger, only a tool would use „Beginner Mode‟ in CS, or why Ragna is OP

• „Cause 30 minutes isn‟t enough time for any of those -_-

• Not to mention CS walks you through how to use each character, so it‟s pointless to cover how to play certain characters

• Basically, if a “character sucks”, it‟s b/c you don‟t know how to use them, not b/c they‟re unplayable

Moving On…

• Only going to be scratching the surface with terminology since there‟s so much & it‟s super complicated • That‟s a panel in & of itself

• However, there will be a glossary in the 3rd game ^.^ • Trying to understand the details of this is like trying to understand the

entirety of the Type-Moon multiverse with only a few resources at hand -_-

• Will use Terumi & Hazama interchangeably unless otherwise stated • i.e., when I hit the 3rd game

• Will go over canon materials, primarily the games, & will briefly sum up notable things in the novel & drama CD

• Hope you love Japanese folklore & mythology, b/c there‟s a lot of it throughout the Blaz-averse

The Wheel of Fate is Turning…

• Basic Info. About the Series

• Things in BlazBlue series

• Locales (Battle Stages)

• Slideshow

• Terminology

• Game Overview: Basics & intricacies

• Calamity Trigger & Continuum Shift

• Novel overview

• Characters

• Both major BG characters & playable characters

• “Fantasy Kitchen Sink”

• Will explain term when I get there

Rebel 1!

• Developers: Ark Systems Works/Aksys Games (for the localization)

• People behind Guilty Gear

• Music Composed by Daisuke Ishiwatari & Arranged by Yoshihiro Kusano

• All major games available on the PS3 & 360; PSP & 3DS for the ports & spin-offs respectively

• 3rd game (Chrono Phantasm) came out relatively recently in Japanese arcades & will be coming to consoles (Japan) later in the year

• Will be arriving to US March next year

• There is an anime in the works, BlazBlue: Alter Memory, that‟s based off *Calamity Trigger‟s events

Action!

Things in series

• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger • Not to mention the PSP port

• BlazBlue: Continuum Shift • Not to mention the PSP/3DS port

• BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND

• BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasm

• Drama CD, The Wheel of Fortune (not in US) • In the timeline where there‟s no Noel (^.^), Jin & Saya get along

quite swimmingly & were very affectionate towards each other, Saya going so far as to make a marriage promise to Jin • The kawaii awesomeness that could have been ~.~

• Xblaze – Code: Embryo • Visual novel, PS3/Vita (came out in japan, July 25, 2013 )

BTWs

• You can pre-order the 3rd game from Amazon if so inclined

<-Image is a hyperlink $49.99, 3/25/2014

Also…

• Kokonoe will be a playable character >.<

• Paid DLC of course

Con‟t

• Novel, Phase 0 & Phase Shift (not in US)

• Manga, BlazBlue: Chimelical Complex (not in US)

• BlazBlue: Alter Memory (not out yet)

• Anime

• Xblaze – Code: Embryo

Non-canon

• BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale

• DS, Will be released in America on Aug 2, 2013

• BlayzBloo: Clone Phantasma

• DSiWare download, presently only available in Japan

• May get it in the States

Con‟t

No Clue

• Manga, BlazBlue: Remix Heart (not in US)

• Can‟t tell if this is just for lolz or if it‟s being taken totally seriously

• In which case it‟s during the academy days of Jin, Noel, Makoto, Tsubaki, & Carl

To Understand This Series, this panel…

• Need to get some terminology out the way b/c it will help when trying to make since of the clusterf**k which is the plot of BlazBlue

• Namely terms not covered in game CT & CS

• Of course, BlazBlue = Azure Grimoire

• You should know if you did the dub for CS for the True Ending

• The Dark War/First War of Magic

• The decade it took to defeat the Black Beast after going dormant from fighting Bloodedge

• Beast appeared in the year 2100 AD out of nowhere & almost wiped out humanity

• Fight ended in 2110 AD

• Caused seithr to spread throughout the world

• Killed ½ of the world‟s population

• Time when humanity at large learned how to use magicks

• & developed Ars Magus then Ars Armagus when Ars Magus wasn‟t enough

• Beastkin (like Makoto) were created to aide in the battle against the Black Beast

• Second War of Magic was at Ikaruga

• Black Beast • May be a failed Murakumo unit (namely a Kusanagi type) • Nu-13 is the mind & Ragna is the body

• Why he‟s utterly helpless in some endings of CT when they partially fuse b/c he‟s only the body

• Basically, Yamata no Orochi, a giant snake beast with 8 heads & tails (basically a dragon) • Slain by Susano‟o

• Reason why there‟s a “Fantasy Kitchen Sink” section

• Was halted for 1 year in a battle with Bloodedge • A time displaced Ragna that managed to regain his original form

• In Ragna‟s bad ending in CS, he becomes the new Black Beast due to losing control of his (fake) Azure Grimoire/BlazBlue & almost destroys the world

• Arakune originally was used as an experiment by Hazama to create the Black Beast

• Nox Nyctores • Made by Nine (Kokonoe‟s Mom, Konoe A. Mercury) • Comprised of concentrated seithr & a piece of the Black beast • Alters mental state of owner

• For the worse

• Intensifies/amplifies the emotions/insecurities of the user • Some may be sentient, like Jin‟s Yukianesa • The user is capable of overtaking their Nox & gaining even more power by being able to

control it • Can act as a power limiter that

• So, once the user gains control of their Nox, they gain even more power

• Nox Nyctores – Character

• Jin Kisaragi

• Mucro Algesco: Yukianesa

• Carl Clover

• Deus Machina: Nirvana

• Noel Vermillion

• Arcus Diabolus: Bolverk

• Hazama/Yuki Terumi

• Geminus Anguium

• Bang Shishigami

• Phoenix: Rettenjo

• Rachel Alucard

• Tsukuyomi Unit

• NOL

• Gigant: Take-Mikazuchi

• Tsubaki Yayoi

• Sealed Weapon Izayoi

• In 3rd game, her Nox is a prototype to

the Murakumo Nox

• Platinum the Trinity

• Arma Reboare: Muchorin

• Hakumen

• Interfectum Malus: Okami

• Nu-13

• Lux Sanctus: Murakumo

• All Murakumo units are replicas of Saya (O.O)

• Jubei

• Mucro Somnio: Musashi

• Relius Clover

• Fluctus Redactum: Ignis

• i.e., mai waifu-bot ^.^

• Litchi Faye-Ling

• Mantenbo

• Murakumo units

• Special types of “Boundary Interface Field Devices” that use Murakumo type weapons

• Created after 1st War of Ars Magus, act as Anti-Sankishin core units

• Original purpose was to be used to explore the other side of the boundary

• Sealed it deep inside the Boundary upon realizing using Murakumo units to do this exploration could make them become the Eye of the Azure, making these units godlike (become the Azure grimoire)

• 13 have been created, with only 3 known

• Lambda-11 being an imitation unit using her Idea Engine as a substitute for a Nox

• Idea Engine: can bypass the Azure Grimoire‟s negation, after this not much else is known

• Mu-12 gained the true Azure & became something better than a Murakumo unit, Kusanagi, while Nu-13, although somewhat of a success, has a false Azure

• Hence when merging with Ragna, becomes the Black Beast, which ultimately is a failed Murakumo Unit (more or less)

• Let that sink in…failed Murakumo unit = Black Beast or Arakune (as far as making an Azure Grimoire & failing hard)DX

• Have so many units seemingly because they were all failures to obtain the true Azure

• Boundary Interface Prime Field Device • Originally made by Yuki & Relius & Shuichiro • Were made to go to the other side of the Boundary, the original being sent to the

heart of the Boundary causing it to gain a soul & become the Eye of the Azure • Humans feared it once this happened & tried to destroy it, but failed, so they sealed it instead

• After this humans began copying it, Murakumo units, to try to harness the power of the Azure

• Basically, any & all (Greek alphabet) + #, Kusanagi is a successful one, Nu-13 partially successful, & the rest failures/killed by Ragna

• Boundary • Where the various timelines intersect • Where things go after events happen • Only a few can observe these, like Rachel, Takamagahara, & a couple others • Inside is the master unit, Amaterasu, the source of distortions in the timeline • Only the Eye of the Azure (Azure/BlazBlue) • Also contains the Azure, which is described as being the true power of the Boundary

itself • Coming in contact with it can give powers, but at great cost when the person is

human • Arakune‟s predicament • Litchi-Faye being able to see other timeline versions of herself + wanting to gain the Azure

Grimoire. Causes her to slowly draw power from it, slowly corrupting her mind corrupting her being, & over-usage may turn her into something like her BF, Arakune

• Seemingly, if a body is tossed into the Boundary, it is possible to recover it or at least the person‟s soul

• Azure

• True power of Boundary or may be more powerful than the Boundary itself

• Azure Grimoires are the only grimoires that can tap into its power

• Yuki created the prototype Azure Grimoire

• Ragna is able to access the True Azure with his imitation + Lambda‟s Idea Engine

• Implied by Litchi & Arakune to have „different colors‟

• Or auras, really

• After that, not much else is known

• Sankinshin

• The original units, served as the inspiration of the Nox Nyctores

• Comprised of the Amaterasu Unit, Susano‟o Unit, & the Tsukuyomi Unit

• Or ancient Japanese deities units >.>

• Amaterasu Unit (sun goddess) • Source of distortions in all the timelines

• Causes the time-loops

• Master unit • Noel is its “eye”

• As the true Azure

• Susano‟o Unit (storm god) • The physical body of Hakumen

• Which has been possessed by Terumi in the past & Jin “now”-ish • Technically shouldn‟t exist <.<

• Presently „owned‟ by Jin from another timeline that doesn‟t exist • Hence why he needs to be “observed” to still exist

• Freakin‟ timey-wimey crap X/

• Since being salvaged, only operating at 20% of its power • Jin!Hakumen = the White Susano‟o & Hazama = the Black Susano‟o • Its true purpose is to slash time

• …wtf..!?

• Tsukuyomi Unit (moon god) • Owned by Rachel • Ultimate defense & resembles a giant golden shield • Grants Rachel mastery over sorcery • True power to protect time • Was used to defend against the Take-Mikazuchi‟s blast in the True Ending of CT

Activated

• Gigant: Take-Mikazuchi (god of thunder/st. of warriors) • Basically a kill-sat • Was supposed to be sealed away, but was used to fire upon Kagetsuchi in CT • Can fire once every 4 years • Was thought to be the Black Beast itself • Destroys Ibukido in the opening of CT

• To stop Mu-12 from being tempered • Kills her in most timelines, but in the main timeline she survives but has no memory

of the event (why she exists in this timeline)

• When fighting the Black Beast, Nine /Konoe of the 6 Heroes used it to drive away the Black Beast from her sister, Celica

• Cauldron • Azure Grimoire‟s original form • Purpose is to gather souls to smelt the sword in its body • Takes thousands of souls to create a Murakumo unit, which is why the

Kagatsuchi NOL branch was so empty in CT • Hazama sacrificed the NOL soldiers so Mu-12 & Nu-13 could be smelted (hence why

the stage is suspiciously empty of ppl.)

• Arguably its other ability is somewhat time travel, as seen by flinging Ragna/Nu-13/Black Beast 100 years into the past & sending Relius & Valkenhyn 80 yrs. into the future

• Can also kill somebody by sending them to the Boundary (maybe..?)

• Duodecim • Noble families descended from the first 12 normal humans who mastered Ars

magus & played a major role in the Dark War

• Are families, but not all are related by blood, like with the Kisaragi family which is in stark contrast with the Yayoi family, granted both families get along well & are considered extremists

• The Mutsuki family is the most powerful

• Family heads are the only ones allowed to meet the Imperator

• Families: • The Mutsuki Family (most powerful)

• The Kisaragi Family

• The Yayoi Family

• The Uzuki Family

• The Satsuki Family

• The Minazuki Family

• The Fuzuki Family

• The Hazuki Family

• The Nagatsuki Family

• The Kanazuki Family

• The Shimotsuki Family

• The Gokuzuki Family

• Six Heroes • Hakumen (Jin), leader

• Jubei, known as Mitsuyoshi

• Konoe A. Mercury, known as Nine, “deceased”

• May be Phantom

• Trinity Glassfield, known As Platinum Alchemist, sealed in Trinity‟s Nox Nyctores

• Valkenhayn R. Hellsing

• Yuki Terumi (was “betrayed” by other members/‟token evil teammate‟)

• Aided by Bloodedge & Clavis Alucard

• Observer • Truly explaining this will dip into quantum physics; so, yeah…>.> otherwise, it‟s

exactly what it implies

• Basically, one that can see all the timelines & essentially has time-loop proof memories

• Certain characters need an Observer to exist

• Since they technically don‟t, like Hakumen

• Rachel, Takamagahara, Kokonoe, & Saya are known Observers

• Noel for all of 2 seconds >.>

6 Heroes-Detail

Konoe A. Mercury/Nine

Valkenhayn R. Hellsing

Jubei (Mitsuyoshi)

Hakumen

Trinity

Terumi Yuki

Others

Clavis Alucard, Rachel‟s Dad Celica A. Mercury, Konoe‟s

younger sister & caretaker of Ragna/Jin/Saya

Tomonori, Jubei‟s brother

• Takamagahara • A mysterious organization of 3 individuals that share one mind that want to

destroy the Amaterasu unit

• They seemingly want to keep the world in a permanent time loop to prevent it from ending

• Originally, wanted Yuki to destroy the Amaterasu unit since it is the cause of all the distortions • It was in Taka‟s way to gain complete control over destiny

• Can also observe the multiple timelines

• Gave Rachel the position of “Observer” • Which she violated the terms of by activating the Tsukuyomi unit against the Take-

Mikuzuchi

• Were put out of commission by Hazama by, basically, being infected with a logic bomb via magic virus created by Phantom, which gives „Saya‟ the chance to find & damage the Amaterasu unit & put it out of commission (BB:CP) • Effectively stopping time from looping/parallel timelines, & thus “shifting” causality

from “random” to “sequential”, turning the world back to its original form, a “Word of Death”, which means when things end, that‟s it • No more resets for you :P

• Because of Saya‟s intervention, Taka‟s interference level is now higher than the Successor of the Azure (Mu-12) according to Terumi + it negated Ragna‟s Azure Grimoire, preventing him from using it

Series

ALSO… • Extreme summations

• Will cover more when I go over characters

Xblaze – Code: Embryo

Basic Plot

• It is a prequel to the BlazBlue series, taking place 150 years before the events in the year 2050

• Most of the antagonists are what laid foundation to the development of

• Murakumo units

• Murakumo blade

• The original Kusanagi blade (weapon)

Characters

Ringo Akagi

Hinata Himazaru

Mei Amanohokosaka

Toya Kagari (protagonist)

Kuon Gramred Shutleheim

Before I Con‟t: Embryo

• Embryos

• Created by Takamagahara and the Magic Guild to act as the core for the T-System

• Main purpose is to open up the Gate to the Boundary and draw out its power

• The Seithr drawn out from the Gate is then used to power up the T-System.

• Its other powers include the power of phenomena intervention, meaning it can recreate time as it pleases, with the only person capable of remembering past timelines being the wielder of Manifestation Demolition Blade: Kusanagi, which has the ability of 'Shared Existence„ (Sechs)

More Embryos

• In order to properly temper the Embryo, the Original Grimoire is needed

• This was lent to Takamagahara by the Magic Guild

• The initial 'birth' of the Embryo was at the Wadatsumi Laboratory

• Only Embryo = Hinata Himezuru

• However, only half completed

• Due to the Grimoire going out of control and absorbing the souls of everyone around the laboratory while she was being tempered

• However, this was stopped halfway by Tōya Kagari's mother

• This event was later known as the Wadatsumi Incident.

Con‟t

Soichiro Unomaru

Akira Kamewari

Yuki Himezuru

Els von Klagen

Es Avenge (Kazuto Kotetsu)

Antagonists

Drei Acht Sechs

Ripper

Es-N

*Again, not available in America X/

Notable Things In Novels

• Explains what happened near the beginning of the time-loop

• Details the lives of the 6 Heroes

• Reveals what Terumi Yuki, Celica, & Bloodedge were all like • i.e., people never really talked about/explained in detail in the games

• Reveals Bloodedge is a time displaced Ragna

• Details how Terumi became Hazama • Hence Kazuma‟s character, made to be the eventual body of Terumi

• Terumi has to form a mutual pact in order to fuse with him

• Terumi loses his body whenever the Black Beast appears

• Terumi kills Tomonari (Jubei‟s bro) when he tries to stop him (Terumi) from fusing with Kazuma

• Details the 6 Heroes “betrayal” of Terumi Yuki • i.e., Clavis, Valkenhayn, & Jubei seal him away pre Dark War, only to

be summoned & used as a „puppet‟ under the influence of a curse by Konoe to help them fight the Black Beast

Con‟t

• Details battle of Bloodedge & the Black Beast

• Again, really details Trinity, who had a crush on Kazuma

• Can find more details on Wiki…

Basics

• Ragna‟s made his way to the 12th hierarchical city of Kagatsuchi to continue his NOL killing spree

• &, of course, he‟s considered a „hero‟ by locals X/

• Welp, your options are NOL, Sector 7 & the Imperator, &the Duodecim, NOL technically is the least of your worries

• Everyone‟s got massive psychological issues

• Or is Bang or Tao ~.~

• Have to stop Nu-13 from getting mad touchy-feely with “Good Guy”

Intricacies

• Find out about Hazama

• Who‟s obviously Terumi Yuki

• The one that killed Konoe, Kokonoe‟s mother…probably

• Everything‟s canon

• Every storyline = canon

• Time-loops!

• The „Calamity Trigger‟ = Ragna being…„assaulted‟ Nu-13, falling into the cauldron, merging together & forming the Black Beast that‟s promptly sent 100 years into the past

• Where‟s Det. Stabler when you need him ~.~‟

• Rachel finally intervenes to help prevent the time loop from being triggered

• Which makes her lose her status of Observer

Basics

• Finally on a „steady‟ timeline vs. a 100-year loop

• Precipitated with Nu-13‟s „death‟

• The best troll to have ever have trolled in all of trolldom, Hazama/Terumi Yuki!

• Supposed to kinda be a surprise but everyone knows Hazama = Terumi Yuki

• Rachel gets put in her place for once

• By Hazama, no less

• Saya!?

• Imperator Librarius?!?

• She gave Yukianesa to Jin (O.O)

• So…she likes the brother/brother incest ?

Intricacies

• Relius, just Relius X/ • & Terumi too • He abducts Arakune..?

• The Imperator DX • People switching alliances

• Litchi & Tsubaki to Sector 7/the Imperator & Noel & Jin defecting from NOL for good

• Really beginning to see Kokonoe take a serious turn for the worse • Will use any means to kill Terumi off for realz

• Takamagahara defeated & everyone‟s freed from time-loops • Terumi‟s still an a$$hole, with a more completed Azure

Grimoire/BlazBlue…b/c he made it in the first place • Takamagahara & Amaterasu master units are what‟s causing &

continuing the time-loops • Even though Taka wants Ama gone

Basics

• 3rd entry in series

• Introduces 4 new characters, 2 new alternates, & 1 returning

• Bullet

• Azrael

• Amane Nishiki

• Kagura Mutsuki (console)

• Terumi Yuki (console)

• Izayoi

• Nu-13 („cause F U, that‟s why ~.~)

• New menu

<.< >.>

Basics Con‟t

• New mechanic, Overdrive system, when activated gives enhanced strength & access to new moves specific to the character

• Crush Trigger to replace Guard Crush, uses Heat instead of guard primer/guard libra system

• Takes 25%/2 Magatamas to use

• Heat gauge split into 4 sections

• 3 main storylines to follow

• New glossary mode for console versions

• Not going to delve too much into specifics, „cause I don‟t want to spoil anything else

Nope.

LOCALES/BATTLE STAGES Launching slideshow in 3…2…1…

Characters

Calamity Trigger/Continuum Shift

K.I.S.S. Principle

• I‟m not going to go over any CP character specific events/BG story (what little are available), since the game‟s not even out yet

• Maybe post 3/2014 but not now

Ragna the Bloodedge (a.k.a. the pedophile)

DOB: March 3

Hobbies: cooking

Values: Silver bracelet

Likes: Meat dishes

Dislikes: G-G-GHOSTS, NOL

Astral Heat: Black Onslaught

VAs: Patrick Seitz, Tomokazu Sugita

Jin Kisaragi

DOB: February 14

Hobbies: collecting vintage motorcycles

Values: Nothing

Likes: Being alone

Dislikes: Weaklings, meat dishes

Astral Heat: Rengoku Hyoya

VAs: David Vincent, Tetsuya Kakihara

Noel Vermillion

DOB: Dec. 25, 2194

Hobbies: Internet shopping, writing poems

Values: Parents/family

Likes: Anything cute

Dislikes: Bugs, esp. ones w/ a lot of legs

Astral Heat: Valkyrie Veil

VAs: Cristina Valenzuela, Kanako Kondo

Rachel Alucard

DOB: October 31

Hobbies: Teatime

Values: Time, her Meissen teacup

Likes: Sweet things (esp. cake)

Dislikes: Being bored, bell peppers, tomato juice

Astral Heat: Clownish Calendula

VAs: Mela Lee/Laura Bailey (CS2), Kana Ueda

Taokaka

DOB: February 22

Hobbies: Taking naps, food

Values: Friends

Likes: Big fishes

Dislikes: Squigglies

Astral Heat: Attack Meow Pow

VAs: Philece Sampler, Chiwa Saito

Bang Shishigami

DOB: January 1

Hobbies: Training, thinking of names for special moves

Values: 55” nail (memento of Lord Tenjou)

Likes: Justice & Litchi

Dislikes: Evil

Astral Heat: Shishigami-style Forbidden Technique: “The Ultimate Bang”

VAs: Tony Oliver, Tsuyoshi Koyama

Carl Clover

DOB: May 5

Hobbies: Violin, chess

Values: Ada

Likes: Cookies

Dislikes: Lies

Astral Heat: Deus Ex Machina

VAs: Michelle Ruff, Miyuki Sawashiro

Litchi Faye-Ling

DOB: July 7

Hobbies: Mahjong

Values: Her hair, Lao Jiu (panda)~alive

Likes: Japanese sake

Dislikes: Indecisive people

Astral Heat: Nine Gates of Heaven

VAs: Lauren Landa, Chiaki Takahashi

Hakumen

DOB: February 14

Hobbies: none

Values: Justice

Likes: Order

Dislikes: The Black Beast

Astral Heat: Kokujin Ogi: Akumetsu

VAs: David Vincent, Tetsuya Kakihara

Arakune

When human: Lotte Carmine

DOB: None listed

Hobbies: None

Values: Knowledge

Likes: Information

Dislikes: Ignorance

Astral Heat: N to infinity

VAs: Spike Spencer, Takashi Hikida

Valkenhayn R. Hellsing

DOB: September 15

Hobbies: Planting bonsai trees

Values: None listed

Likes: Pocket watches

Dislikes: Objects with no character

Astral Heat: Blut Vollmond [excuse my horrible pronunciation >.>]

VAs: Doug Stone, Motomu Kiyokawa

Tager

DOB: November 23

Hobbies: Building ships in bottles

Values: Kokonoe

Likes: Magnets

Dislikes: Salt water

Astral Heat: King of Tager

VAs: Jamieson Price, Kenji Nomura

Makoto Nanaya

DOB: April 2

Hobbies: Lacrosse

Values: None listed

Likes: All-you-can-eat, Chestnut parfaits

Dislikes: Discrimination

Astral Heat: Planet Crusher

VAs: Cindy Robinson, Tomomi Isomura

Tsubaki Yayoi

DOB: March 14

Hobbies: Singing

Values: None listed

Likes: Historical dramas

Dislikes: War

Astral Heat: Requiem Aeternam

VAs: Julie Ann Taylor, Asami Imai

Platinum the Trinity

Personalities: Luna, Sena, & Trinity

DOB: December 13

Hobbies: Othello

Values: None

Likes: Mr. Jubei

Dislikes: Snakes, that guy who always hangs around Jubei (Ragna)

Astral Heat: Shining Layered Force

VAs: Laura Bailey, Aoi Yuki

Lambda-11

DOB: (beginning of CS story)

Hobbies: None

Values: None

Likes: None

Dislikes: None

Astral Heat: Sword of Desctruction

VAs: Christina Valenzuela, Kanako Kondo

Nu-13

DOB: December 31

Hobbies: Thinking about Ragna

Values: Ragna

Likes: Ragna

Dislikes: Everything else

Astral Heat: Sword of Destruction

VAs: Christina Valenzuela, Kanako Kondo

Mu-12 (or Kusanagi)

DOB: *January 7, 2200

Hobbies: *Destruction

Values: Same as Noel

Likes: *Destruction

Dislikes: The world

Astral Heat: Sword of the Godslayer („Kusanagi‟ in Japanese, since that‟s what it „s translated from)

VAs: Christina Valenzuela/Julie Ann Taylor (CS2), Kanako Kondo

DAT ASS >.<

Relius Clover

DOB: June 1 (100+ years-old)

Hobbies: Research

Values: none listed

Likes: Opera

Dislikes: Disorganized bookshelves

Astral Heat: The Puppeteer‟s Altar (different for each character in CP)

VAs: Travis Willingham, Suwabe Junichi

Hazama /Terumi Yuki

DOB: April 29

Hobbies: Collecting silver accessories

Values: none listed

Likes: Boiled eggs

Dislikes: Cats, loud noises

Astral Heat: Hungry Darkness of 1000 Souls

VAs: Erik Davies/Spike Spencer (CS2), Doug Erholtz (CSEX)

Saya

DOB: *January 7, 2200

Hobbies: None listed

Values: None listed

Likes: None listed

Dislikes: None listed

VAs: Christina Valenzuela (CT)/Kate Higgins (CS), Kanako Kondo (CT,CS)/Yukana Nogami (CSEX, CP)

Chrono Phantasm

Yuki Terumi

Bullet Look @ those Massive Mammaries (O.O)

Azrael

Kagura Mutsuki

Amane Nishiki

Astral Heat is different for everyone

Izayoi

Non-playable Characters

Toraka, Tao‟s sis

“Fantasy Kitchen Sink”

Lol, wut?

• TVTropes is what >.<

• Basically, a work where they pull bits & pieces from a variety of different myths, lore, legends, settings/genres, etc. to incorporate into their story. Basically, a setting where „all myths are true‟

• BlazBlue is no stranger to this

• Even from different games, anime, etc.

• Let me just “name a few”

• Ragna = „god‟ in Norse or to Ragnar Lodbrok, slayer of Jomungandr (Hazama in this case)

• Ragna[rok] = „twilight of the gods‟ in Norse mythology, hence why he‟s the „Destroyer of the World‟ in game

• Hazama‟s Overdrive = Jormungandr (giant snake in Norse mythology) & his drive Ouroboros, first emerged from ancient Egyptian culture but also seen in Norse mythology

• & you see it in alchemy

• All or most of Izayoi‟s attacks are Gundam related

• Heck, she kinda looks like a Gundam (esp. in her Astral Heat)

• Of course, all Murakumo units use Greek letters

• Tsubaki‟s outfit is reminiscent of a Valkyrie (Norse mythology, which they probably borrowed from Christianity anyway)

• Valkenhayn R. Hellsing & Rachel Alucard (Dracula backwards) are figures you would find mentioned in Grimm‟s fairy tales & Dracula respectively

• Black Beast = Yamata no Orochi

• Mu-12, Kusanagi unit = the sword that was found in Yamata no Orochi upon its defeat (originally „Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi‟ [sword of gathering clouds of heaven])

• Sankinshin units

• Amaterasu Master Unit = goddess of the sun

• Sunano‟o = god of storms

• True to his name, winds up being banished

• Tsukiyomi Unit = god of the moon

• Take-Mikazuchi = thunder god/St. of warriors

• Grimoire = textbook of magic, French word based, but (used to) referred to all books written in Latin

• Time travel

• “Observers” = something you would find in a time travel story/a basic quantum physics concept/sci-fi

• Takamagahara = a place in Japanese myth, dwelling place of kami

• Yukianesa (Jin‟s Nox Nyctores) = snow fairy or you can stretch it & go with a yuki-onna (yokai in Japanese folklore, which would be more appropriate considering)

• Arakune = Greek monster Arachne

• Nirvana = Indian term that refers to the piece of mind attained with “moksha (liberation)”

• Jubei & Kokonoe = Bakeneko (monster cat)

• Jubei on the nicer side, Kokonoe more „bakeneko‟ like (i.e., total d*uches)

• Cats tend to be d*uches in Japanese myth & lore

• Characters alone: magical girl (Trinity), Eldritch Abomination (Arakune), robot guy (Tager), robot girl (Nu, Lambda, & Mu), Valkyrie (Tsubaki/Izayoi), magician/puppeteer (Relius/Carl), ninja (Bang), vampire (Rachel), werewolf/lyncanthrope (Valkenhayn), damphyr (Ragna in some timelines), animal/human hybrid (Tao & others), robot-ninja-zombie-pirate (Hakumen), etc.

• Rachel, being a vampire, doesn‟t project a shadow on stages where characters cast shadows

• On Izayoi‟s note: • Azrael‟s attacks = missile names

• Amane‟s attack‟s = Toei Sentai series‟ names

• Noel‟s attacks – Norse mythological figures

• Some of Tsubaki‟s attacks = movements/chants from a Requiem mass

• Rachel‟s attacks = plant names (most of them)

• Relius‟ attacks = Latin

• Carl‟s attacks = Italian, namely musical themes

• Arakune‟s attacks = scientific equations

• Valkenhayn‟s attacks = German

• Litchi‟s attacks = Mahjong terms/moves

Look At Time!

• Seriously, when playing this game through the story mode, listen to it in both sub & dub • Both give you their nice „gems‟

• F. U. if you hate the dub b/c it‟s MAGNIFICENT >.<* (as is the sub)

• Both sub & dub have their mispronunciation issues, so don‟t you go there

• Take some things on the TvTropes page for BlazBlue at face value b/c a lot of it is fandumb or outdated information • Some entries will state Hakumen & Jin are evil..?

• What game were you playing???

• “Such & such is a jerkass” • Very few characters are „nice‟ through & through. In the Blaz-averse .

It‟s a world of jerkasses, stating such is super pointless esp. when the “hero” is a serial killer -_-

Time for some cheap parlor tricks…

Contact, Feedback, Handouts, Etc.

• Help yourself to my business cards & handouts with appropriate links • Includes link to my blog, my e-mail address, & list of resources

• Use submission form on my blog for any questions, suggestions, comments, etc. for this panel • Link on handout

• Please e-mail me any vids &/or pics of this panel • Especially vids

• Please fill out the AUSA feedback form (in the back) &/or say how much you liked it at the feedback session on Sunday (if so inclined) • It‟s not like I care or anything >.>

• Most importantly, thank you for showing up & I greatly appreciate your attendance & any feedback you have for this panel ^.^

Other Panels

• How to Con: Staying in A Hotel

• Friday, 9/13/13 1-2:30p in Panels 3

• Becoming a Panelist

• Friday, 9/13/13 2:30-4p in Panels 2

• The Sengoku Era is Alive with the Sound of Anime

• Friday, 9/13/13 4-7p in Panels 1

• Guide to Buying ALL THE THINGS: Shut Up & Take My Money

• Friday, 9/13/13 8:30-10p in Panels 5

Oh, s**t, Motto Panels >.<

• Bara vs. Yaoi: A Look Into the XY/XY Love Categories – 18+

• Friday/Saturday, 9/13/13 1a-2:30a in Educational Panels

• BlazBlue: Info. & Other Time-Paradox Buffoonery

• Saturday, 9/14/13 10a-1p in Panels 3

• The World .Hack

• Saturday, 9/14/13 1-4p in Panels 5

• Timey-Wimey Anime

• Saturday, 9/14/13 4-5:30p in Panels 3

I want you to understand exactly how much I had to do for this con…

• Obscure J-RPGs You Should Play (Available in America)

• Sunday, 9/15/13 10a-1p in Panels 2