<body><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><div class="fr-image" contenteditable="false" data-contents-json="{"src":"https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/BladeNSoul/download/19ba408ee43-6300ceb9-de89-40f0-aefb-4c22bd46108f","width":null,"height":null}" data-contents-type="image"><div class="fe-image-inner"><img src="https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/BladeNSoul/download/19ba408ee43-6300ceb9-de89-40f0-aefb-4c22bd46108f" alt="steaksorabanner.jpg" class="fe-image"></div></div></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆ Character Summary ◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong></strong></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><u><strong>Steaks </strong></u></span><u><strong>& </strong></u><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><u><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako</strong></u></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Lyn Assassin /  Yun Blademaster Couple</strong></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Blade & Soul</strong></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><strong>Viridian Coast > Heaven’s Reach Server</strong></span></div><div data-contents-type="text"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆The Road to Blade & Soul◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“I was always fascinated with the finesse and swordplay in dramatized Wuxia fiction. Blademaster was a chance for me to embrace and experience that in a way many other MMOs don’t.”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><strong></strong></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>How long you’ve been playing Blade & Soul?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Since NEO (Early March 2025) - right before the Bloodshade Patch</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong> </span>I started playing Blade & Soul around mid-February of 2016 (shortly after launch, if I recall), and I joined Blade & Soul NEO late February of 2025.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>How did you each discover Blade & Soul?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span><strong> </strong>Wakako one day asked me to play this reboot MMO of a game she played back in 2016. She had been trying to find a game we both would like and can play together.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span>I think I first discovered the classic Blade & Soul through a television ad. I remember seeing Windwalking and gliding, and thinking it was just like the martial arts fantasy TV dramas. </div><div data-contents-type="text">I talked about the game with a friend of mine, and within a few weeks, we had our own clan. When I found out about NEO, I was excited to get back into the Blade & Soul experience.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>After getting familiar with the game, what kept you coming back?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span><strong> </strong>Gameplay/Battle System, Character Design, Story was good. MAKING FUN OF THE VOICE ACTING (Sorry - examples later!)</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako: </strong></span>One of the biggest aspects of Blade & Soul that always kept me coming back was the story and its thematic elements, the combat style, and dungeon/raid mechanics.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><div class="fr-image" contenteditable="false" data-contents-json="{"src":"https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/BladeNSoul/download/19ba0393664-298193d2-1373-4297-8f24-96569335e48d","width":null,"height":null}" data-contents-type="image"><div class="fe-image-inner"><img src="https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/BladeNSoul/download/19ba0393664-298193d2-1373-4297-8f24-96569335e48d" class="fe-image"></div></div></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆Blade & Soul Through The Years◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“One of the biggest aspects of Blade & Soul that always kept me coming back was the story and its thematic elements, the combat style, and dungeon/raid mechanics.”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Why do you like the game type you’re currently playing (LIVE or NEO)?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span><strong> </strong>So I have only put a few hours into LIVE, I’m mainly on NEO. I will say, I think I was spoiled with unlimited stamina… running around in LIVE has been a pain haha. Something about NEO just feels a bit more polished. I’ve had more weird terrain travel bugs in LIVE than I have in NEO lol.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako: </strong></span>Graphically, I like the polish in LIVE more, but I feel like there is also too much “new” to LIVE for me to pick back up again easily — steep learning curve. I’m very content with picking up NEO at its current pace and making friends along the way.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What do you like most about your current class?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span><strong> </strong>Big DPS - Murder Lyn Attack</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako: </strong></span>I was always fascinated with the finesse and swordplay in dramatized Wuxia fiction. Blademaster (especially in early B&S Live) was a chance for me to embrace and experience that in a way many other MMOs don’t. </div><div data-contents-type="text">With NEO, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the challenge of juggling draw stance and Black Dragon uptime. I like that combat feels like a real-time action puzzle in some ways.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Have you always played this class? If not, what changed and why?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span><strong> </strong>First time playing B&S in general, but I usually play assassin type classes in MMOs.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> In both Live and NEO, Blademaster was my go-to first pick. Oddly enough, I don’t usually go for this style in other MMOs.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What was the first thing you remember doing together in-game?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> The first thing I remember doing was farming Stalker Jiangshi because we really wanted an outfit right out the get go.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako: </strong></span> The first thing I remember was us doing character creation. Then, when we couldn’t find each other, we realized I messed up by creating my character on the wrong server, haha! For the longest time, we did most of the progression at the same pace, side by side.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What does Blade & Soul mean to you now?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> It’s a small niche community of gamers who love the MMO aspect. And a bunch of nerds, for sure (me included).</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> The community may be small, but I think I’ve had more friendships that transcend the boundaries of this game than any other online game I’ve played.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>♥︎Love For Blade & Soul♥︎  </strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“As for playing Blade & Soul together, I’m always looking for activities and games to enjoy together with the people in my life. Blade & Soul NEO was on my radar, and on a whim, I asked him if he would be willing to give it a try.”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Did you meet your partner through Blade & Soul? If so, congratulations! How did you initially meet in-game? </strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>If not, how did you meet, and how did you start playing Blade & Soul together?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Hahaha… She was a friend of my ex (we all worked at an Anime Convention back in the day).</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Haha, I used to be a friend of his ex. As for playing Blade & Soul together, I’m always looking for activities and games to enjoy together with the people in my life. Blade & Soul NEO was on my radar, and on a whim, I asked him if he would be willing to give it a try.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>How did you grow closer through playing Blade & Soul? What was that process like?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> We were already close before B&S, but it became a daily grind to get stronger together. It has become part of our daily routine to grind out our dailies and we stream it every Monday to Thursday night… and then play more off stream haha.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> The daily grind is more or less regularly scheduled time together, even though he’s always carrying me and I’m playing catch-up. (Always carrying. -Steaks)</div><div data-contents-type="text">We stream it together often, and it’s certainly something we play together almost daily.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Do any zones, dungeons, or moments in Blade & Soul feel “special” to you because of your relationship?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks: </strong></span>I think what made things special was how much we made each other laugh with some of the voice lines in the game. For example, why do the terra cotta soldiers in the Cinderlands TALK? Why do they yell BLOCKED or DEFENDED at me? Aren’t they statues? Also, there's a voice line in Blackram Support - where the guy you fight goes “TRANSSSFOOOOOOORM” and then has this super awkward moan. I always made that moan in voice or loud enough she could hear at her computer and that always made her break out laughing.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> More often than not, it’s the voice lines. Honestly, whichever part of the game it comes from, inside jokes will always be a reminder of Blade & Soul. </div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Does it ever cause funny problems?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> It causes us to sleep super late and wake up late sometimes. Sometimes we wake up just after World Boss on weekends… oops.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> We’ve certainly molded our sleep and eating schedule around streaming (often Blade & Soul), events, and World Boss.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Are you competitive with each other? Who is the better player — honestly?</strong></em><strong> </strong></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> We are always competitive at everything we do. I’m the better player, I just do more damage.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> I’m more of a maths person and sometimes make better numbers-based decisions, but he’s definitely got the stronger character by far. The irony is, I’m not optimized for DPS — I just play a build I find fun.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>What is the funniest or most unexpected thing that has happened to you two in the game?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks: </strong></span>I never expected to hit top 10 again at world boss after the server merge. I think I’ve hit 2 and 3 when the whales weren’t on… but I do manage top 10 now! Surprising, honestly!</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> As far as unexpected goes, we’ve each had our moment in the spotlight for community hide and seek during livestreams. Those events had such high participation, and anyone in the community could have won!</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>♥︎Memories♥︎  </strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“One time on a duo run, I grounded her and told her to sit in the corner so she wouldn't do that. She listened and I solo’ed the boss lol. GOD That attack drives me crazy…”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Your favorite Blade & Soul memory together:</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> My FIRST Heroic Electro-pierce… I opened my box and screamed into the mic. She knew exactly what had happened without me saying.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Honestly, anytime he has any really exciting moments in Blade & Soul, I feel a shimmer of that happiness and excitement, too, because I introduced him to the game.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Your favorite solo memories:</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> She has this attack that STUNS, and she does this dive bomb at the beginning of every encounter. I usually triple Knockdown at the beginning so every time she starts an encounter with this stun, it throws my rotation off. One time on a duo run, I grounded her and told her to sit in the corner so she wouldn't do that. She listened and I solo’ed the boss lol. GOD That attack drives me crazy…</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Look, it’s easy and just <em>feels</em> good to enter a fight using Flying Sparrow or Divine Retribution! I know it drives him nuts, haha, so I try to do it less now. As far as solo memories go, I think the peak memory I have from back in the day on Live was grinding out Poharan and learning all of the fight’s ins and outs. I was so enamored by the “girl with a big gun” aesthetic, I even wanted to cosplay her once upon a time.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>The biggest “we finally did it!” achievement together:</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> We kept trying to duo Soguns: Gardens, but just couldn't do enough DPS. After she upgraded a handful of equipment (she finally had hit all Winterbane at this point) and I had finally gotten a leggy EP, we FINALLY could do it. Next up: Attempting to Duo Soguns: Lament together!</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako: </strong></span>Definitely, the duo Soguns Lament: Gardens run we were finally able to pull off has been the biggest. Before that milestone, it was duo Bad Bug Raid, and even further back, duo Blackram Supply Chain: Support.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>A time when everything went hilariously wrong:</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> There are some times she is sleepy and either walks on autopilot, and does a lot of other things she normally would.</div><div data-contents-type="text">One example is, Hongmoon Blocking at the wrong times, dashing into the boss at the wrong times, etc. She knows exactly when she messes up and calls herself out on it right after and we all have big laughs, stuff happens (especially when you're tired!)</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> There’s been a couple of runs of Sundered Nexus: Upper Floor and Frenzy Avalanche Den where I’ll get revived and die again before my feet even touch the ground, multiple times in the same fight. That one’s always wild. But yeah, I do sometimes mess things up because of sleepiness, or muscle memory kicking in before I’ve actually processed what I’m seeing on screen.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><div class="fr-image" contenteditable="false" data-contents-json="{"src":"https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/bladensoul/download/19ba03a6f0a-e17f000d-6da8-4ad4-ade8-8c01189c97b5","width":null,"height":null}" data-contents-type="image"><div class="fe-image-inner"><img src="https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/bladensoul/download/19ba03a6f0a-e17f000d-6da8-4ad4-ade8-8c01189c97b5" class="fe-image"></div></div></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆Clan and Community◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“We hung out with some clan members at Anime Expo - went and visited the B&S Heroes booth. We made some irl friends from this game, kept some, and got rid of some. C’est la vie!”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><strong><br></strong><em><strong>Have you been part of a clan together?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> We were invited to join “Hell” in Viridian Coast. Most quit around server merge, and we were sick of pugging all the time. Then Mantoubunz told me to message “Near Death”’s clan leader - and we’ve been here since.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> As he said — I more or less tag along where he goes. I’m more of a wallflower until I get to know people, and even then, I prefer more one-on-one conversations.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What role did your clan or friends play in your story?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Wakako and I did everything duo, up until Infernal Lord, where we started looking for groups. We met some cool people at Bad Bug Raid - and eventually they took us into their clan. That's where we were able to get stronger with the help of the clan.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Clanmates and friends have definitely played a big part in helping me complete dungeon runs and learn boss rotations.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Any favorite or legendary clan memories?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> I can never forget the hours spent in Training Base shouting at each other while we learned boss rotations, HMB and party stealth timing, etc. I remember being in there for 2 hours with the clan shouting “TANK! PIZZA! TANK! AOE!!” We suffered for sure but when we finally beat it, after 2 hours, we all LEARNED the rotations. Subsequent runs became stupid easy! Wakako and I still shout rotation steps out loud when we learn new dungeons.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> What he said. I remember the Cold Storage calls of “He’s cowarding! He’s mad!” (<-- HAHA I inject stupid commentary everywhere… -Steaks)</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Do you have any funny stories involving rival clans or players?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks: </strong></span>One time, a cerulean destro was shouting at Wakako “WHERE IS STEAKS” because he wanted to pvp… I was literally like a few feet away in Mushin’s Tower…</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Oh my goodness, that guy…! The funny thing is, I had been AFK in Mushins, so I suspect he thought I was ignoring him.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What’s your favorite B&S meme, joke, or community inside-joke?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> We knew someone who had poor sleep habits, and would always fall asleep during dungeon runs; specifically Cold Storage. With the old clan, the phrase “Winter is coming” is something we made fun of him using - since we heard that voice line well over 100 times that night…</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> I think my favorite line from Live is “Read the letter, Cricket!”, but certainly, there are a lot of inside jokes. “The early Cricket gets the… worm? Or doesn’t the worm get the cricket? That can’t be right.”</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Has B&S ever crossed into your real life?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 255);"><strong>Both:</strong></span> Meetups! We met our old Viridian Coast Clan “Hell” at Disneyland, that was super fun. We also met Kellpak there! We hung out with some clan members at Anime Expo - went and visited the B&S Heroes booth.</div><div data-contents-type="text">We made some irl friends from this game, kept some, and got rid of some. C’est la vie!</div><div data-contents-type="text"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><div class="fr-image" contenteditable="false" data-contents-json="{"src":"https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/bladensoul/download/19ba039917c-40033228-22ae-49f8-9c4c-a100451e45ad","width":null,"height":null}" data-contents-type="image"><div class="fe-image-inner"><img src="https://fizz-download.playnccdn.com/lg/file/bladensoul/download/19ba039917c-40033228-22ae-49f8-9c4c-a100451e45ad" class="fe-image"></div></div></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆World, Zones, & Content◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“The in-game flavor text says “Even the champion of the Hongmoon Clan cannot outswim the tide of destiny.” We then proceeded to have every clan member run out and die to the tide of destiny.”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>NPCs or bosses you’re oddly attached to:</strong></em> </div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Poharan is cute, Chef is Mommy. </div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> I’ve been attached to Poharan since the days of Live. I spent countless hours learning to solo Poharan back in the day, and she still holds a special place in my heart for her character design. I do have a newfound appreciation for Tae Jangum, though.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>What is your favorite zone in the game and why?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks: </strong></span>MSP is probably my favorite, it's just gorgeous.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> MSP is definitely beautiful - it’s a shame we can only be in there for so long. Otherwise, I would love to just run around taking screenshots. If only there were a photo-mode version of MSP where every enemy was “passive”, no loot, no EXP, but unlimited time. My next favorite is Blackram Supply Chain, in its full B&S Live single-dungeon glory. I spent so much time there back in the day.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Where do you have some of your best memories?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> There is this part near the beach factions, that if you go TOO far away from the main area you just DIE. The in-game flavor text says “Even the champion of the Hongmoon Clan cannot outswim the tide of destiny.” We then proceeded to have every clan member run out and die to the tide of destiny.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Probably Blackram Supply, Blackram Command, and Cold Storage. That was the era when I really felt a contributing part of a team, playing with my clan.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Favorite Blade & Soul events of all time:</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Silverfrost Launch Party! Purple Selector was HUGE back then.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> I think the Silverfrost Launch Party was my favorite community event, especially the hide & seek and the dash across the Silverfrost region.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 255);"><strong>Both:</strong></span> We enjoyed Hide & Seek with Rownen. We would always try to race to see if we could find him.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br><em><strong>Was there a specific update, patch, or era that felt like the “golden age” for you?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Pre server-merge. The first clan we were in were active, made good friends, and had good times. Post server merge, they all slowly quit or just never came back. Currently, this era feels good. I can carry people and I'm only 1-2 patches behind still haha.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> Shortly before server merge. I actually felt like my damage output was somewhat competitive. Back then, I hit top 10 a couple times at World Boss when the whales didn’t show up. Now, I’m just the clan backpack — always getting carried.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 20px;"><span style="color: rgb(138, 96, 205);"><strong>◆Looking Ahead◆</strong></span></span></div><div data-contents-type="text" style="text-align: center;"><em>“Really, thank you all for making runs amazing (and miserable) - may leggys bless each and every one of you one day. Keep on the hard grind! Thanks for the great memories.”</em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>What are your hopes for the future of Blade & Soul?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Is there where I put in my requests ;) like a Lyn Destroyer with an axe the size of a Gon? Or you know, Gunslinger? I hope the game stays alive and we get new players & classes. Might need to look at early game / new player experience for that. I’m thankful there's a lvl 45 skip at least, vs LIVE where you pay for a lvl 60 ticket, or grind it.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong> </span>When I went on hiatus from B&S Live, a lot of new classes dropped. I would really like to try my hand at playing Warden on B&S NEO.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><em><strong>Anything else you’d like to say to the Blade & Soul community?</strong></em></div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(79, 173, 255);"><strong>Steaks:</strong></span> Really, thank you all for making runs amazing (and miserable) - may leggys bless each and every one of you one day. Keep on the hard grind! Thanks for the great memories.</div><div data-contents-type="text"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><strong>Sorabayashi Wakako:</strong></span> I know many people were hoping for a proper “NEO Classic” experience when NEO launched, but I appreciate everyone who stuck around to help make the game experience what it is today. There are some really wonderful people willing to host dungeon carries and share reliable suspicious ritual/field boss information in world chat.</div><div data-contents-type="text"></div><div data-contents-type="text"><br class="ProseMirror-trailingBreak"></div></body>