[Blade Raider]

For years, I've wanted to make a Black Mage action figure and with Ex-Aid I finally parts I'm happy with. This means it doubles as a Kamen Rider.

Kamen Rider Waltz:


I do intend to make Waltz part of the Knights of the Round as my Merlin analog, but the custom itself came from a different concept so I felt it needed it's own thread.

Parts:
Head - Para-DX Action Body dummy head
Body and Armor - Para-DX
Staff - Arms Action Kamuro
Hat - 2008 Ki-Adi-Mundi Comic 2-Pack
Cloak - Cobra Commander v34 cape



Waltz has 2 chest plates. One is colored to represent Fire, Lightning/Bolt, and Blizzard/Ice as a nod to the 3 main Black Magic spells in Final Fantasy. This is a MP gauge. The second plate is black to represent an empty MP gauge. This of course fits right in with Kamen Rider Ex-Aid's designs.



I wanted to do something with the wheel on his back and what I finally came up with is making it a Reflect Ring. While Black Mages can't normally cast Reflect, they sure can equip accessories that use it. While in use it floats around Waltz.



I generally based Waltz's colors on Vivi's colors, though some remakes make all Black Mages have the green and white pants. The name Waltz also comes from FFIX as well. I wasn't going to call him Vivi and Mage and Wizard are taken in Kamen Rider. Black Waltz is a boss in FFIX that's also a Black Mage and tied into Vivi's story.

FFIX isn't my favorite FF, but somehow I've made 2 Riders based on that game now. It's not intentional.



Attacker, Attacker, Red Mage, Black Mage...not bad, but this party could use a White Mage.

Finally, I want to leave on a picture I couldn't resist making.