Glorious Escapism Roleplay

Toutaku · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:27 pm Post subject:

Yes, them!
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

LenLenWearsBlue · Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 1059 Location: Under your bed.

I can agree with that. And I have really strict rules about what I consider cosplay. It has to do the character justice.

Being a dedicated cosplayer of several years, I could rant about what I think determines a good cosplay from a bad cosplay, but it might summon a shitstorm.

Toutaku · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:34 pm Post subject:

Fine by me. No-one here will judge.
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

LenLenWearsBlue · Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 1059 Location: Under your bed.

Ehh, I'd only really want to post it if I felt like it'd help other cosplayers. Otherwise I'd just sound like a pompous elitist ranting about Party City wigs. Which I am.

Toutaku · Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:40 pm Post subject:

Do as you wish. I know I need some guidelines. :)
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

LenLenWearsBlue · Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 1059 Location: Under your bed.

Okay, this turned out a lot longer than I intially planned it to, since I absent-mindedly started ranting about cosplay ettiquette and such too, so I apologize for that. *Constructs massive ark to prepare for inevitable shitstorm*

WHAT MAKES A BAD COSPLAY?
-If the fabric is cheap/shiny/nasty looking, it is a bad cosplay.
-If the wig is badly styled, neon coloured when it is not supposed to be, or once more otherwise nasty looking, it is a bad cosplay.
-If the cosplay is evidently sloppily made, e.g. large amounts of sloppy stitching, tight/baggy enough to look uncomfortable and awkward, it is a bad cosplay.
-Cardboard is never okay ever.
-Unfitting makeup, excessive or otherwise, can really ruin a cosplay.
-Outfits that are genderbent, "changed" or Gijinka'd in a way to look purposely "sexy" are not okay, either. I'll expand on this in cosplay ettiquette, but look up Jessica Nigri's Pokemon cosplays for prime examples on this.
-Shoddily made props can ruin everything. Even if the outfits themselves are brilliant, those Yugis who walk around with Millenium puzzles made out of cardboard spray-painted gold still lose points.
-Wigs > real hair, in most scenarios. Unless it's someone like Tavros you're cosplaying who requires very short hair, most real hair just doesn't bend to animu physics.
-Pay attention to detail. Don't think that because no one ever notices Mami's flower hair clips, or Sasha's earring, that they're not there. These are very trivial examples, but detail is important.
-Almond Sharpie doesn't make good facial hair.

These are the reasons I usually abhor most pre-bought cosplays. There's nothing wrong with buying little things - most of my Flapjack cosplay is bought from things I've found in local stores and edited, after all, but whole costumes bought online are usually hideous and overpriced. In fact, most of these rules are ones I've established from making terrible mistakes myself.

LEN LEN'S COSPLAY ETTIQUETTE
-Try to be in character. I cannot emphasize this one enough. I die a little inside every time I see a picture of a cosplayer being evidently OOC, slouching and smiling awkwardly for pictures, or, even worse, trying to be KAWAII/KAKKOI/SMEXY DESU DESU UGUU~ [[i.e. that Homura ass shot]]. Sorry boys. Not only does it make the character look bad, but it makes you look trashy, too. This is why I, and a lot of other people, strongly dislike Pixyteriyaki.
-Then again, don't be too in character. I've heard con horror stories of people being sexually harrassed by too in-character France cosplayers, or aggressive characters yelling obscenities at and intimidating other cosplayers, even non-con goers. That leads me to another point. . .
-Be careful how you present yourself when cosplaying in public/outside cons. Don't draw too much attention to yourself, as you'll make the rest of us look bad, don't harrass passers-by, and certainly don't think you're better than anyone else just because you're dressed different.
-That said, don't let people harrass you, either. I've been outside in full Lolita gear before, just for shits and giggles, and as well as when I've travelled to and from cons in costume, I've often heard people whisper/giggle and stare at me oddly. I can tolerate that, but if someone is outright being hostile to you, tell someone. Con security, your friends/family, even the police if you think you're in danger.
-Fanservice can be fun, but please don't try to pressure other cosplayers into it, especially ones you don't know, and don't get up in someone's grill because they don't like a pairing you like. And nothing overly sexual in public, please.
-Overall, just have fun. Cosplay is a brilliant form of self-expression, and at the end of the day, whilst it can be SRS BUSINESS, you should just try to enjoy yourself. Smile

Toutaku · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject:

Okay, we need your help. Me and LenLen want to do a photoshoot as characters, but we don't know who to dress as. Any suggestions?

Oh. It's an Ero photoshoot. No nudity, but we'll be scantily clad.

LenLen, mind uploadiong pics of us you feel show us best for reference?
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

LenLenWearsBlue · Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 1059 Location: Under your bed.

Yeah, okay, I can do that.

TOUTAKU (Most recent pictures):

LENLEN (Most recent pictures,I'm on the far left in both, wearing the rainbow hoodie):

AND US TOGETHER:

(Guy on the left is Voltaire, awww yeah.)

LenLenWearsBlue · Joined: 18 Mar 2011 Posts: 1059 Location: Under your bed.

These are pictures mainly to show our faces and such, you'll have to consult Toutaku if you want more "reference". *Ahem*

Rabukurafuto · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:03 pm Post subject:

That looks like an interesting event. Toutaku's look feels familiar.
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Where others are blind, I am futurely inclined
And you too could see, if you was widdle ol' me!

Toutaku · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:33 pm Post subject:

Do I remind you of someone?

And have you any suggestions, Rabu-chin?
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

Rabukurafuto · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:57 pm Post subject:

You remind of something, but I cannot remember what. Repo! perhaps?

I have no suggestions right now.
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Where others are blind, I am futurely inclined
And you too could see, if you was widdle ol' me!

Toutaku · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject:

Ah, I'm the spitting image of Graverobber. We're like identicle face twins.

And ah, thanks anyway.
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"Victims, aren't we all?"

Rabukurafuto · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:10 pm Post subject:

Yes, that must be it.

You're welcome.
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Where others are blind, I am futurely inclined
And you too could see, if you was widdle ol' me!

Apprentise · Joined: 18 Oct 2010 Posts: 1258 Location: Your mind

I have no ideas as of yet but I feel I must make a comment upon the No Cardoard ever mentioned in ur list. How else are some of the wepons to be made? I do not know any cosplayer that has enough money or skill to make enormous and heavy wooden weapons. I need to do Ds sword for next year but have no wish to break the bank doing it. Cardboard and news paper is cheep. Paper mache *sp* would be cost efective and light. I will do my best to ensure the weapon is not bulky or ugly looking as a result but really I can see no other way.
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You wont see me comeing till I strike!