Cosplay Arenas - General "Rule(s)" of Thumb [Discussion]

What do you base most of your ratings on in the Cosplay Arenas?

Reference Image	11.7%	[ 7 ]
Gender	1.7%	[ 1 ]
Skin Color	0.0%	[ 0 ]
Eye Color/Style	0.0%	[ 0 ]
Other	5.0%	[ 3 ]
All of the Above	81.7%	[ 49 ]
Total Votes:			[ 60 ]

[Pilotslover]

IIDarknessChosenII

I can understand that xD;;; that's great lol

This week seems especially bad, it's sad really.

[IIDarknessChosenII]

Pilotslover

IIDarknessChosenII

I can understand that xD;;; that's great lol

This week seems especially bad, it's sad really.

Yeah. I don't know what it is this week -_-;

I'm getting yelled at on one of the cosplays that there's two of b/c people can't c/p the link -____-

[Marionette Fantasia]

Panda Berry In Space

IIDarknessChosenII

There's a great example this week.

What do you think about random pictures found on the net that people "cosplay"?

I think I know which one you're talking about. sweatdrop

I honestly don't know how I should feel about them. On one hand, it's not their original design. They're dressing as a character that someone else created. On the other hand... If it's not an official character of anything, it's not really that much of a cosplay. It's a bit of a gray area.

Not grey at all. Not an official character = Not a cosplay.

[IIDarknessChosenII]

Marionette Fantasia

Panda Berry In Space

IIDarknessChosenII

There's a great example this week.

What do you think about random pictures found on the net that people "cosplay"?

I think I know which one you're talking about. sweatdrop

I honestly don't know how I should feel about them. On one hand, it's not their original design. They're dressing as a character that someone else created. On the other hand... If it's not an official character of anything, it's not really that much of a cosplay. It's a bit of a gray area.

Not grey at all. Not an official character = Not a cosplay.

What are your views on novel characters? (Books that haven't been made into movies.)

[Marionette Fantasia]

IIDarknessChosenII

Marionette Fantasia

Panda Berry In Space

IIDarknessChosenII

There's a great example this week.

What do you think about random pictures found on the net that people "cosplay"?

I think I know which one you're talking about. sweatdrop

I honestly don't know how I should feel about them. On one hand, it's not their original design. They're dressing as a character that someone else created. On the other hand... If it's not an official character of anything, it's not really that much of a cosplay. It's a bit of a gray area.

Not grey at all. Not an official character = Not a cosplay.

What are your views on novel characters? (Books that haven't been made into movies.)

It'll be easier just to show you.

DO:

Name (Series) - In example provided, the book's name was too large to fit in the title.
Description - Word for word descriptive quote, straight from book.
Reference - Image of the novel, lets viewers know the character is from a book only. Unless a proper reference can be provided. It's important not to leave it blank, otherwise it may effect your score.

DON'T:

Name: Just name of character.
Description: General musings, hoping you like it, etc. No mention of character appearance.
Reference: Blank.

[IIDarknessChosenII]

Marionette Fantasia

IIDarknessChosenII

Marionette Fantasia

Panda Berry In Space

IIDarknessChosenII

There's a great example this week.

What do you think about random pictures found on the net that people "cosplay"?

I think I know which one you're talking about. sweatdrop

I honestly don't know how I should feel about them. On one hand, it's not their original design. They're dressing as a character that someone else created. On the other hand... If it's not an official character of anything, it's not really that much of a cosplay. It's a bit of a gray area.

Not grey at all. Not an official character = Not a cosplay.

What are your views on novel characters? (Books that haven't been made into movies.)

It'll be easier just to show you.

DO:

Name (Series) - In example provided, the book's name was too large to fit in the title.
Description - Word for word descriptive quote, straight from book.
Reference - Image of the novel, lets viewers know the character is from a book only. Unless a proper reference can be provided. It's important not to leave it blank, otherwise it may effect your score.

DON'T:

Name: Just name of character.
Description: General musings, hoping you like it, etc. No mention of character appearance.
Reference: Blank.

I couldn't agree more.

I can't remember what/if you said about the ref link in description if they can't get the URL slot to work.

[Marionette Fantasia]

IIDarknessChosenII

Marionette Fantasia

IIDarknessChosenII

Marionette Fantasia

Panda Berry In Space

IIDarknessChosenII

There's a great example this week.

What do you think about random pictures found on the net that people "cosplay"?

I think I know which one you're talking about. sweatdrop

I honestly don't know how I should feel about them. On one hand, it's not their original design. They're dressing as a character that someone else created. On the other hand... If it's not an official character of anything, it's not really that much of a cosplay. It's a bit of a gray area.

Not grey at all. Not an official character = Not a cosplay.

What are your views on novel characters? (Books that haven't been made into movies.)

It'll be easier just to show you.

DO:

Name (Series) - In example provided, the book's name was too large to fit in the title.
Description - Word for word descriptive quote, straight from book.
Reference - Image of the novel, lets viewers know the character is from a book only. Unless a proper reference can be provided. It's important not to leave it blank, otherwise it may effect your score.

DON'T:

Name: Just name of character.
Description: General musings, hoping you like it, etc. No mention of character appearance.
Reference: Blank.

I couldn't agree more.

I can't remember what/if you said about the ref link in description if they can't get the URL slot to work.

I didn't.

But photobucket should work, no questions asked. A lot of people i see with that are hotlinking from other sites. It should always be to your photobucket, because then you know it will work.

[Nomme de Pocky]

So I've been thinking on what you've been saying about the cosplays and the "twists" and have come to the conclusion that you're right. It was hard for me to do, but I have to say I agree. Now if I have a question about a cosplay can I post it here?

[Nomme de Pocky]

Marionette Fantasia

I'm sorry, but "twist cosplays" are original. No exceptions. And that's the consensus of the vast majority of the cosplay arena community.

And Cosplaying fanart (Of something non-canonical) is original.

One of the most important things of the cosplay arena is staying accurate. MEANING:
If you cannot provide an official source (Book, movie/series/real life) for something, then it is not permitted to be a cosplay. Simple.

As for the book and movie differences, either are acceptable cosplays.

Eg. Movie Sophie Hatter (Howl's Moving Castle) - Plain, black hair. (Polite, Dependent on Howl, no magical ability)
Book Sophie Hatter - Quite beautiful, strawberry blonde hair. (Cantankerous, independent, and has magical ability).

I see what you're saying now. My next question to you, what if something absolutely needed for the cosplay doesn't layer correctly enough to the reference pic? How do you rate that? Do you it slide? Or do you tell that person to find other options?

[Nomme de Pocky]

Zerker x Saurian

There were a lot of misplaced entries this week, either that or they didn't have refs.
Reference pictures are important.
Also there should be some rule about wearing a certain item etc. doesn't mean your cosplaying that character (example: taking your current avi and wearing Doll Ears does not make you Chii from Chobits, unless you are actually attempting to cosplay her).

I saw that and wanted to bang my head against something. It's the same thing with that Sora like hair. There was a cosplay this week that was Sora and had used that hair from that one item that is shaped like Sora's, but it's the wrong color.

[IIDarknessChosenII]

Marionette Fantasia

I didn't.

But photobucket should work, no questions asked. A lot of people i see with that are hotlinking from other sites. It should always be to your photobucket, because then you know it will work.

Yeah. I know though that even though you use the correct photobucket link, it still says "urls should be from a whitelisted source" or something to that effect when you hit the preview button, so maybe they're getting scared it won't show?
I prefer having something there. The actual ref that works, or a link. I won't go out of my way to look up something though if nothing is present.

[Marionette Fantasia]

Xiophelia

Marionette Fantasia

I'm sorry, but "twist cosplays" are original. No exceptions. And that's the consensus of the vast majority of the cosplay arena community.

And Cosplaying fanart (Of something non-canonical) is original.

One of the most important things of the cosplay arena is staying accurate. MEANING:
If you cannot provide an official source (Book, movie/series/real life) for something, then it is not permitted to be a cosplay. Simple.

As for the book and movie differences, either are acceptable cosplays.

Eg. Movie Sophie Hatter (Howl's Moving Castle) - Plain, black hair. (Polite, Dependent on Howl, no magical ability)
Book Sophie Hatter - Quite beautiful, strawberry blonde hair. (Cantankerous, independent, and has magical ability).

I see what you're saying now. My next question to you, what if something absolutely needed for the cosplay doesn't layer correctly enough to the reference pic? How do you rate that? Do you it slide? Or do you tell that person to find other options?

Compromise, and find a similar item that works almost as well. My original designs for Mrs Pentstemmon were


But it didn't layer properly, so I searched until I found an item that did.

Or you can always try to hide that particular section of the avatar by cosplaying a scene.

[Marionette Fantasia]

IIDarknessChosenII

Marionette Fantasia

I didn't.

But photobucket should work, no questions asked. A lot of people i see with that are hotlinking from other sites. It should always be to your photobucket, because then you know it will work.

Yeah. I know though that even though you use the correct photobucket link, it still says "urls should be from a whitelisted source" or something to that effect when you hit the preview button, so maybe they're getting scared it won't show?
I prefer having something there. The actual ref that works, or a link. I won't go out of my way to look up something though if nothing is present.

Well, if you've honestly done all you can, including making or using a second photobucket account, then a link could be acceptable.

[Nomme de Pocky]

Marionette Fantasia

Xiophelia

Marionette Fantasia

I'm sorry, but "twist cosplays" are original. No exceptions. And that's the consensus of the vast majority of the cosplay arena community.

And Cosplaying fanart (Of something non-canonical) is original.

One of the most important things of the cosplay arena is staying accurate. MEANING:
If you cannot provide an official source (Book, movie/series/real life) for something, then it is not permitted to be a cosplay. Simple.

As for the book and movie differences, either are acceptable cosplays.

Eg. Movie Sophie Hatter (Howl's Moving Castle) - Plain, black hair. (Polite, Dependent on Howl, no magical ability)
Book Sophie Hatter - Quite beautiful, strawberry blonde hair. (Cantankerous, independent, and has magical ability).

I see what you're saying now. My next question to you, what if something absolutely needed for the cosplay doesn't layer correctly enough to the reference pic? How do you rate that? Do you it slide? Or do you tell that person to find other options?

Compromise, and find a similar item that works almost as well. My original designs for Mrs Pentstemmon were


But it didn't layer properly, so I searched until I found an item that did.

Or you can always try to hide that particular section of the avatar by cosplaying a scene.

I see. The problem I'm coming across is the background. In the particular scene I'm attempting to cosplay there are storm clouds, but it's not on a beach. (This is also from Howl's Moving Castle movie) I have the background I wish to use and of course the snowfall, the only issue I'm facing is the dark, cloud and when you equip the rain item, the clouds will not show up sadly enough. So in this situation, leave the background the way it is with the snow? Or take out the background altogether?

[Marionette Fantasia]

Xiophelia

Marionette Fantasia

Xiophelia

Marionette Fantasia

I'm sorry, but "twist cosplays" are original. No exceptions. And that's the consensus of the vast majority of the cosplay arena community.

And Cosplaying fanart (Of something non-canonical) is original.

One of the most important things of the cosplay arena is staying accurate. MEANING:
If you cannot provide an official source (Book, movie/series/real life) for something, then it is not permitted to be a cosplay. Simple.

As for the book and movie differences, either are acceptable cosplays.

Eg. Movie Sophie Hatter (Howl's Moving Castle) - Plain, black hair. (Polite, Dependent on Howl, no magical ability)
Book Sophie Hatter - Quite beautiful, strawberry blonde hair. (Cantankerous, independent, and has magical ability).

I see what you're saying now. My next question to you, what if something absolutely needed for the cosplay doesn't layer correctly enough to the reference pic? How do you rate that? Do you it slide? Or do you tell that person to find other options?

Compromise, and find a similar item that works almost as well. My original designs for Mrs Pentstemmon were


But it didn't layer properly, so I searched until I found an item that did.

Or you can always try to hide that particular section of the avatar by cosplaying a scene.

I see. The problem I'm coming across is the background. In the particular scene I'm attempting to cosplay there are storm clouds, but it's not on a beach. (This is also from Howl's Moving Castle movie) I have the background I wish to use and of course the snowfall, the only issue I'm facing is the dark, cloud and when you equip the rain item, the clouds will not show up sadly enough. So in this situation, leave the background the way it is with the snow? Or take out the background altogether?

PM me, with what you have, I can help you out there. smile