Tarla's Non-Toolbar Treasures represents a digital giveaway system on the virtual pet site Neopets, where users can obtain free in-game items by visiting a specific webpage during designated time windows. Historically, this system was linked to a downloadable Neopets toolbar that alerted users when prizes were available. Following the discontinuation of the toolbar, the functionality shifted to a direct webpage visit model. The process requires no financial expenditure, downloads, or external software, operating entirely within the Neopets website environment. Participants access the giveaway by navigating to the URL http://www.neopets.com/freebies/tarlastoolbar.phtml. The system operates on a random schedule, with prize availability varying by day and time. Some days feature multiple prize periods, while others offer no opportunities at all. The items distributed range from common goods to rare collectibles, including Paint Brushes and Secret Laboratory Map pieces, which hold significant value within the Neopets economy. The mechanism relies on users manually checking the page or utilizing community-sourced timing information, as no official automated alert system currently exists.
The Mechanics of Prize Acquisition
The giveaway process is governed by specific server-side logic that determines when Tarla is "in" to distribute prizes. When a user visits the designated URL, the server checks the current time against Tarla's randomized schedule. If the user arrives during an active window, the prize is awarded directly to their inventory. The source code for a user-created script (Source 1) reveals the internal logic used to detect Tarla's status. The script checks the Neopets header clock, known as Neopets Standard Time (NST), to synchronize with the site's schedule. It parses the time displayed on the page to determine the current hour and whether it is AM or PM. This allows the script to decide whether to refresh the page aggressively or wait for a longer interval.
The system distinguishes between two primary states on days when Tarla is active. One message indicates that Tarla is currently at the prize warehouse and will be checking back later. This signals that prize periods are scheduled for that day. Another message indicates that Tarla is busy with other chores, meaning no prizes will be distributed for the remainder of the day. If a user visits the page and Tarla is not currently present, they will see a static page with a specific message. If Tarla is scheduled to appear later that day, the page will indicate that she is at the warehouse. If she is not scheduled to appear at all, the page will state that she is busy with chores.
Prize Structure and Value
The value of the items awarded varies significantly based on the timing of the visit. According to community reports (Source 7), Tarla stays for approximately 15 to 16 minutes during each visit. The items awarded during these windows are not uniform. The most valuable rewards are distributed during the first three minutes of a visit. Users who access the page within this initial three-minute window receive the "Main Prize" of the day. This prize is identical for everyone who accesses the page during this timeframe. For example, if the Main Prize is a specific piece of the Secret Laboratory Map, every participant in that window receives that same piece.
After the initial three minutes, the prizes shift to what is described as "lesser value" items (Source 6). These are typically lower-value goods, though they still contribute to a player's inventory. The specific items awarded are not fixed; they change based on the day and the specific prize period. Historical reports mention receiving items such as Cloud Paintbrushes (Source 4) and various other goods (Source 6). The rarity of the items is a key component of the system, incentivizing users to check the page as frequently as possible during active days to maximize their chances of hitting the high-value Main Prize window.
Accessing the Giveaway
Accessing Tarla's treasures requires a Neopets account and internet access. The specific URL is http://www.neopets.com/freebies/tarlastoolbar.phtml. While the page was originally designed to work with a toolbar that provided visual alerts, the site now functions as a standalone page. Source 5 explicitly states that Flash is not required to collect the prize, despite the animation on the page. Simply visiting the URL while Tarla is active is sufficient to trigger the item reward.
The process is entirely automated on the user side once the page is loaded. There are no forms to fill out, no surveys to complete, and no purchases required. The only requirement is visiting the specific URL at the correct time. The randomness of the schedule means that users cannot predict exact times without external data. Consequently, the community has developed methods to track these times. User-created scripts, such as the one detailed in Source 1 and Source 2, automate the checking process. These scripts refresh the page at set intervals: every 1 to 3 minutes when Tarla might show up, and every 30 minutes when she is idle. This automates the manual checking process, increasing the likelihood of catching a prize window.
Scheduling and Frequency
The frequency of prize availability is irregular. Source 5 notes that the giveaway occurs at "various times throughout the day on random days." Source 7 provides more specific details, stating that on days when Tarla is active, she visits at four random times. Each visit falls within one of four 6-hour periods. Once a visit occurs within a specific 6-hour slot, no further prizes are awarded in that slot for the day. However, the message indicating that Tarla is at the warehouse remains visible until the end of the day, which can be misleading to users who might think she is still available.
The system does not guarantee daily prizes. There are days where Tarla is "busy with her other chores," and no prizes are awarded at all. On these days, the page will display a message stating that she will not give out prizes. Source 1 and Source 2 describe a feature in user scripts where the browser can automatically close the tab if this "busy" message is detected, saving the user from manually checking for the rest of the day.
Community Tracking and Tools
Due to the lack of an official alert system, the Neopets community relies heavily on third-party tools and forums to track Tarla's appearances. The script code provided in Sources 1 and 2 is a prime example of these tools. It is a "UserScript" designed to run on browsers with script managers like Greasemonkey or Tampermonkey. The script monitors the page content for specific text strings that indicate Tarla's status. If the text matches the "busy" message, it prompts the user to close the tab. If the text indicates she is at the warehouse, the script adjusts its refresh rate to check more frequently.
Forums such as TDN Forums (Source 4) play a crucial role in manual tracking. Users report specific times when they have successfully obtained prizes. These reports help others narrow down the potential windows for checking. For instance, Source 4 mentions a user reporting a prize acquisition and the thread being pinned for high importance, indicating a dedicated community effort to log these times. The thread rules emphasize that users should only post to report specific times or prizes, avoiding clutter like "I missed Tarla!" This structured reporting helps build a dataset of active times, though it remains user-generated and unofficial.
Potential Rewards and Avatars
Beyond the physical items, Tarla's giveaway is associated with Neopets avatars, which are profile images users can display. Source 6 mentions two avatars related to Tarla and the Shop of Mystery. The "Tarla - Shop of Mystery" avatar is obtained by making a purchase at Tarla's Shop of Mystery on Terror Mountain. While this is not directly part of the Non-Toolbar Treasures, it is related to the character. The second avatar mentioned is for the "Grundo - Discarded Plushie," which is unrelated to Tarla but appears in the same context in Source 6.
The items awarded, particularly the Main Prize, can be highly valuable. Secret Laboratory Map pieces are consistently mentioned as high-tier rewards. These pieces are used to unlock the Secret Laboratory Map, which allows users to zap their pets with random mutations. Because these maps are expensive to assemble on the open market, receiving a piece for free is a significant boon. Other items like Paint Brushes (e.g., Cloud Paintbrush) also have high market value and can be sold for substantial amounts of Neopoints, the in-game currency.
Technical and Historical Context
The transition from a toolbar-dependent system to a web-based one reflects broader changes in internet technology. Source 7 mentions that the toolbar is no longer available and that the image on the page is outdated, giving a "feel of how long ago Neopets stopped updating this link." This suggests that while the functionality remains, the presentation is legacy. Source 5 confirms that Flash is no longer required, adapting to modern browser security standards that often block Flash content.
The underlying code for the user scripts (Sources 1 and 2) reveals the technical constraints of the system. The script relies on the presence of a specific HTML element with the ID "nst" to get the time. It also parses the page content using regular expressions to detect the status messages. This indicates that the Neopets page structure has remained consistent enough for these scripts to function over time. The script also handles the logic for determining when to refresh the page to avoid overwhelming the server while maximizing the chance of catching a prize window.
Conclusion
Tarla's Non-Toolbar Treasures is a free, randomized in-game giveaway on Neopets that requires users to visit a specific URL during unannounced time windows to receive items. The system replaced an older toolbar-based alert system and operates on a schedule where Tarla appears up to four times a day on random days. The value of the prizes depends on the timing of the visit, with the most valuable "Main Prize" awarded to those who visit within the first three minutes of a specific appearance. Due to the lack of official alerts, the Neopets community relies on user-created scripts and forum reporting to track active times. The items awarded, including rare Paint Brushes and Secret Laboratory Map pieces, hold significant value within the game's economy.