Trying my best to fill in your shoes

Sometime last April, I put this teaser up as a prelude to my next cosplay project. I was hoping to have it ready in the last Domination II event, but I judged too soon and the project wasn't able to push through. Now I'm happy to say that things are finally falling into place and that I can finally unveil this humble little project of mine.

Judging from the silhouette, I'm sure it's no secret that I'm planning to cosplay Selva Norte, the RNPC avatar of RCM Hrin. It seems pretty ambitious, but I'm going to great lengths to lessen the food intake so I wouldn't look like a blimp wearing this costume. I'm really excited to get this done, being the fact that Selva's costume involves a great deal of intricate details.

I originally planned to cosplay her character sans the arm guard, given the fact that it's too detailed. Ever since Doratomo closed its character image database, I've been having trouble looking for concrete pictures of the armor. And since I can't think of a way to conceal my real arm and go for the skeleton version of Selva's left forearm, so I thought it would be easier to adapt the bandaged version.

But then again, I had help from a good props maker, so he was able to come up with a different version of the arm guard.

I really like the cyborg fingers, which is actually just one half of a rough working glove sprayed with silver Pylox and accessorized with rubber stoppers to simulate the robotic armor. I can very well flex my fingers, but cannot readily grasp anything because of the rubber fingers. Bending my elbows is going to be next to impossible because of armor covering half of my arm. It's also made of rubber sheets glued together and sprayed with silver metallic Pylox to make it look like metal.

I thought well of a good weapon for the character. Given the dearth of images on the web, I chose the Glacial Eglanche ice series rapier.

Compared to my previous Idge cosplay where I was lugging around this huge Castor Sword GS, this cosplay prop is easier to carry around since it's lightweight and all. I'm particularly fond of the flower-like hilt and the vine-like detail surrounding the blade.

I'll be posting pictures soon about the rest of the costume's finished product. I'm still working on the additional accessories for the corset, necklace and boots. Can't wait to have a photo shoot with some of my GE cosplay friends!

The not-so-secret project

Soon to be seen on e-Games Domination II

Let's just hope I get it done on time.

Cosplay the GE way

Even before I got hooked into GE, I've always been a huge fan of cosplays, and have been cosplaying since 2000. As die-hard hobbyists, most of my friends and I would drool over the gorgeous costume designs in Granado Espada. Sans the awestruck expressions on our faces, you can almost hear the collective whirring in our minds as we contemplated on how to build the costume. I, for one, would look at the characters from all perspectives, taking note of the details and the possible materials on how to bring to life such a magnificent design.

While I was going around my usual surfing (was looking for a Grace Bernelli avatar hehe), I stumbled upon MMO site's gallery of Granado Espada cosplayers.


Hmm..lemme see.There's a male wizard in Clara Mago robes wielding a (huge) Staff of Simurgh, male elementalist in Robe of Fire, Emilia Guliano with a Unicorn staff, male musketeer in a Striform suit (I forgot what pistols are those XD), female wizard in Clara Mago wielding Staff of Gnosis, male fighter in Camisa de Soldado, Catherine the Summoner, female elementalist in Robe of Fire, and Cath's doll, Helena. The last guy at the far right side looks like a scout in Renoir costume (not so sure though).

I have to say that these people must be avid players of the game to have put such dedication to the details, down to the expression of the characters. It's absolutely astounding. Although I may have to comment a bit on some of the details and accessories, but these guys totally bowled me over. The setting, the facial expressions and stances all spoke of their familiarity of the game. Amazing.

View the gallery here.

Now if I can only haul my friends for a GE group cosplay x pictorial...