rkold | Doll Karma (Reply)

I was going to make a long ranty post about how I hated Dolpa and how it had sucked completely, but I can't do that now.

I woke up at at 6:30 am, showered and got to Big Sight by 7:15 am. That whole thing about no lines before 7:30 am was a lie. There were a good 1000 people at least lined up for the LEs already and I joined the procession. For the next nearly hour and a half we looped around inside Big Sight before going up some stairs outside and getting a chance to pick a lottery number. For those who have attended even a small doujinshi event at Big Sight (i.e. a regular Comic City) the line and the space needed for Dolpa was nothing. For those who have never attended a Dolpa, the space it takes up is huge and the line is incredibly long. All of you who think waiting outside for 2 hours in the sun at the LA opening was hard should not try Dolpa as the wait is a minimum of 3 1/2 hours and you can not really sit for any of it. In the winter, you go from being overheated inside because you have your jacket on, to being cold outside from standing still. It was not an experience I relish. I had the misfortune to draw #2221. It was about 1/2 way through the number of spaces available for people to wait in. Since it's a lottery not all numbers are picked, but I would say most people seemed to draw a much better number than me.

Not surprisingly, the first doll to sell out was the Rozen Maiden, the only doll that was Dolpa only. I had promised a woman named Aki I had met at Sato to buy a Rozen Maiden for her if I got a decent number, Rozen Maiden had been one of the only dolls I had not specifically set out to buy before leaving New York. I felt a little bad, but hoped Aki had a better number than me. The next doll to sell out was Yukinojo followed about 15 minutes later by Hewitt. It was now close to 10:45 in the morning, and the Dealer's Room had been opened for nearly an hour. A few moments later, Anne, the one doll I sort of wanted for myself sold out, and not that long after Piccolo joined her. For those curious, Emma was still available and I might, if I had waited been able to do pre-order, but by 11:00 I couldn't take it anymore. The line was moving at a crawl, I wasn't sure I wanted to do a pre-order and impose on Kate more, and it seemed easier to call it a day and go to the Dealer's Room.

Having lost patience while trying to go through the Dolpa guide, I decided to use the just go up and down the aisles method. I was feeling sort of down and not really seeing anything I liked when I ran into Dezarii from DoA again. She was rather pleased having bought quite a few eyes from Silver. I loved the purple ones she picked up but couldn't face fighting the crowds to get my own. (Doll Show!) Things picked up for me when I found the dealer selling MSD cat ear wigs and tails. Now I can make my own catboy Yuuta! <3 I saw some interesting things I probably should have pounced on, but I was sort of waiting and wandered the aisles. It's always interesting to see what is available.

I then visited the Sumika since the line wasn't so long and it was on the way to the other hall. Other than the Yo things some of the V Jeans things, and maybe the lingerie, nothing had sold out, yet. I got a pair of MSD glasses to try out and see whether Hiroshi-kun prefers the Volks or Leeke ones. I also picked up an outfit or so. I sort of regret not grabbing more now since all the MSD things sold out. I took a fast look at the past LEs available. I can't remember who the DDs were but to the best of my memory I saw: Touya, Koyha, Yo Rengemaru Sweet Dreams, and open eyed, Yo Suzuna Sweet Dreams and open eyed, First Enn, Cyndy II, Noel, Sweet Dreams Mika, and Sweet Dreams Lucas.

There were also a ton more One-Offs than the ones shown on the website. I tried to get pictures of most of them. The only ones I really liked were Jun Tachibana (I think the SD-13 Girl One-Off I had liked was also a Jun, but I REALLy do not need a SD-13 girl and she doesn't fit any of my storylines) and a Yo, as I rather wanted a Yo.

I had fun wandering the aisles looking at things, someday when I don't have a huge book bag I need to visit the glass eye booths. I think maybe next show to find eyes for my future Soul Doll Paris, Keigo, unless I find other eyes I like better elsewhere.

However, the biggest surprise of the day was a phone call from Aki. I had rented a cell phone for Japan so that Kate and Jenn are able to find me at Comiket and to keep Kate apprised of where I am while out shopping. Aki was calling to let me know that she had gotten a ticket for Anne. At first, I was a bit confused and thought it was a pre-order voucher, so I thought it was terribly nice of her, but was not overly excited. It wasn't until I actually got to Aki's booth that I discovered the truth. Aki had gotten me a voucher to get Anne THAT DAY!!! I could get my Yo! I thanked Aki profusely and went to pick up Anne promising to come back with Anne to show her, and sort of wanting to now get Anne-chan something to wear. lol

Well, the gods reward people who do a good deed, and Aki won the Lucas One-Off she wanted. And me, I have my Anne. I actually rather like her, and think she has a lot of potential. I think I am going to look into finding 14 mm eyes for her first, as I think she would benefit from smaller eyes. I also might send her off for some modding to enlarge her eyes or maybe get her re-painted. She's really quite cute and I like the Yo body. For those curious, Anne and I assume Piccolo, have magnet cap heads like Yuki.

Despite a poor start, things have proved to be a very Merry Christmas for me, and I hope to take a few pictures of my haul.