It's great to see you again, dear readers! Welcome back to the one stop shop for all your RPG entertainment needs! Inside, we're ready to unveil Semi-finals Week of Season Fifteen, where only a few of the best individuals in each division remain, ready to fight with all their might for the chance at a title! But, first, we've got something huge going on in the forums this week. Click Here to head over to the 2nd half of the rankings topic. Cast your votes for which of the five games up for ranking you support: Star Ocean 3, Shadow Hearts 2, Final Fantasy 1, Pokemon and Karyl from Tales of Destiny. It's been a long time since the last ranking season, so you really don't want to miss the new blood! First, before you check out the new stuff, head on over to Last Week's Results, and find out who prevailed in the quarterfinals. Was Virginia able to outwit the assassin Jaffar? Did Hahn stand his ground against the terrifying Landis? Does Yuna still hold on to her title? Head on inside, dear readers, and find out! Now that you're caught up, go check out The Semi-finals, and get ready to support your favourite fighters! In Light, the Worren Katt stands ready to overwhelm the rest of her division. Though she's a respected staff fighter, will she be able to overcome Light's premier archer, who many have deemed the soon-to-be-champ? In Middle, girl power still reigns supreme, as Princess Toadstool and Momo face off in one of the most anticipated matches of the week! In Heavy, Gau has slain even the mighty Archsage Athos. While Gau has proven himself to be a destroyer even legendary mages, will ancient technology get the better of him? And in Godlike, two of the most powerful evils to grace their respective universes come together for a titanic clash that will surely decide the fate of Godlike this season: which is the lesser ( or greater ) of two evils? Well, I'm sure you're dying to check it out yourself, so I'll just let you go for a moment. Done? Good. The RPG Strategy League has finished its second arc, and the third arc is ready to go! Head into the fantastic world of Disgaea, and get ready for another amazing strategic adventure! And if you haven't done it alread, head on over to the RPGDL Forums, and sign up! The only way you can take part in the rankings this season is if register an account, so get to it! It's not time-consuming, and it's more than worth it! And brought to you by Nanjo-corp, we're pleased to present Behind the Scenes with Chisato Madison, now in smell-o-vision: Previously, on Behind the Scenes: Welcome to the Mole, RPGDL edition. You sixteen are here to compete for up to one million dollars. However, you will be hindered, for one of you is a saboteur. It's Kain! Let's get him! No... wait... aagh! And you thought casting him would be a good idea because... ... And now, Behind the Scenes: Welcome to Behind the Scenes, the show that proves that a catapult is really a girl's best friend. I'm Gilgamesh, along with Morte and Ultros. And now, the host of our show, Ms. Chisato Madison! Thank you, Gilga... wait a minute, why do you have a pile of instruments with you? Well, Morte's your sidekick, Ultros runs the cameras. I figured I could be your bandleader. Well, we really don't need someone to play instruments... That's all right. I don't know how to play them. It's just to make sure that I don't get drafted into janitorial work. But that's why we hired you! Before we begin, I believe we have some good-natured ribbing to do. So, Morte, how do you feel about being a loser? Not too good. I have no idea how you deal with it all the time. Cute. Very cute, skull. I don't remember exploding recently. Only if you don't include those attempts to fit into your old jeans. I don't know, I think she's lost some weight recently. I'm probably going to regret saying this, but I have been excercising lately. See? I knew she looked Light lately. Light. Guests. NOW. Introducing Virginia Maxwell and Katt. Good day. Hey. Ladies, this first question is for both of you. You both downgraded in back-to-back seasons, and now you find yourselves both prepared to reach the finals and reclaim your spots in Middle. So my question is this: Do you support the trade embargo against Ivalice? What the heck kind of question is that? Well... Of course I don't support the embargo! The only thing those Ivalice dogs know is violence, and the only way to stop them is with violence! You can't honestly believe that. I think this is just one large misunderstanding between the governments of the multiverse. If people would get together and talk it out... What, and become a huge target for some nutjob in tight pants who thinks the world would be better with the nobility? I'm not suggesting that they wear targets on their backs. I'm just trying to find a non-violent solution. I believe that you're letting your anger towards the people of Ivalice cloud your judgement. Oh, and you're not with your vendetta against my friends and I? Vendetta?! How can you say I have a vendetta?! Gee, how about the fact that you've fought one of us every season you've gotten in? Morte, why haven't I heard of this Ivalice embargo before now? It's because there isn't one. We made it up to increase the tension. While they were waiting in the green room, we had Ultros make a fake news report about it. The boss said he wanted more non-violent conflict on the show, and nothing gets people worked up like politics. That seems smart enough, but you know this is going to end in a fight. Don't worry, we confiscated all their equipment. They won't get too out of hand. Right. Thank goodness that you didn't do this with someone with natural weapons, like, say, CLAWS. My eyes! Gilgamesh, escort our guests out and send in the Middle interviewees, please. No problem. Momo, Princess, you're up. Thank you, Mr. Gilgamesh. Hello. So, Princess, how did it feel avenging the little fluffball? I wouldn't say it was really "avenging". It was just luck that I would face Mallow's opponent. Of course, you do realize that by beating Belenus, you may very well have caused Little Mr. Weepy to go back to Light. I did? Oh dear. Hey, look on the bright side - the Mushroom Kingdom won't have to worry about drought this year! Peach, do you have any words to say to your opponent now that she's here? I wish her the best of luck, and I hope that if she wins, she goes on and takes the championship. That's very nice. And you know what we do to people who are nice... Launch them into orbit? No, that would be cruel and unusual. No, we're going to give you home-baked cookies. Let me guess... they're poisoned. With the chief's baking, how could you tell? Hah! I don't have the time to bake cookies. Nate did it. In that case, I'd love to have some. Where are they? At the bottom of the pit. Aaaah! Ooh! Chocolate chip! I worry about that woman sometimes. So, Momo, how's the old rocket launcher? Still blowing stuff up... I need to talk to you. That's what we're here for. No, I mean in private. Say... NO. Is it important? You could say that... All right. Morte, you take over for Heavy, all right? No problem, chief. Let's see, we have... oh no. We are the pusher robots. We will save you from the terrible secret of space. Have fun. Great. Just what I needed - the chance to banter with two buckets of bolts. I do not like to be insulted, Morte. Shall I destroy you again? No, that's all right. Please commence with the interview. All right. Now, repeat after me... Is this an attempt to insult us once more? No. I give my word that this won't insult you. Very well. Repeat after me: Form at sea colon back slash. Format C:/ Great. ... Huh. I didn't know you knew how to use computers, Morte. I don't. Ultros taught me. You have to know those kinds of things if you want to be a receptionist. This leads to the problem of what we're going to do about the interviews. You still care about the quality of this? If you're going to do something, you might as well try and do it well. Besides, I'd like to avoid getting mauled by Chisato. That just leaves the question of how we're going to fill up this time. Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Gilgy? I think so, Ulty, but I don't think Morte would fit into the red jumpsuit. Right. So, do you want metalhead #1 or #2? You will be exterminated! I can't believe that this is actually an improvement. Interview us, meatbag... er, bonebag! All right. TG, you took down the reigning Middle champion, and now you face off against the luscious Xenobia. What's your plan to win? Hit hard, hit often, and don't get disabled by her attacks. Great. Any advice for would-be robots? Humanity is a necessary evil. Tolerate them, but do not like them. Words that I've been preaching for a while. Diekbeck, how are you going to beat Gau? I shall cast the spells that make me not fall down, I suppose. Beep. And that's all from Heavy, thank goodness. I have to say, that was rather sad. It could have been worse. We could have done an infomercial. Are you going to tell us what Momo had to say? Maybe after the show. Let's just finish up. Our final guests are godlike stalwards Ryu the Third and Profound Darkness. ... Hate. Ryu, I really have nothing to say to you. You haven't done anything remarkably notable this season, you can't really give any advice on your opponent or your gameplan, and I wouldn't dream of launching you or dropping you. I guess the only thing to do is send you on your way. ... I know, it's pointless. But we needed to fill quota, and Zophar wouldn't fit in the studio. ... Bye. And once again, the silent hero gives the best interview of the day. PD, can I call you PD? Destroy... All right then. PD, are you more destructive than Zophar? Die! Chisato, I don't mean to seem cowardly, but I think the fact that the incarnation of darkness seems to be preparing to attack us should be a bit of a warning to leave as quickly as possible. Graah! Never fear, Gilgamesh is here! This should be fun to watch. Puny foe, die! Take this! And this! No... How did you do that? Quad-wielding flashlights. How else would you destroy a being of darkness? All right, let's finish this up. I want to hear what the psycho scientist had to say. From all of us to all of you, good night. Now, it's like this... _ _ _ And that's my situation. Well, I can see why you would be interested in vengeance. I don't suggest it, though. Messing with a timestream can be very dangerous. You may have already disrupted the way things will turn out with your betting. I'm not looking to change the world. I just want to get some payback against Chisato and her goons. All the same... Will you help me or not? I can give you the device. But I want no part of what you use it for. That's fine by me. Thank you. Not a problem. Bye. ... *ring ring* Hello? Hi Momo, it's me. Do you think you could arrange a meeting with Shadow for me? I have some information that I think he'd find interesting...