FANIME WEAPONS POLICY 2006

JME2 · April 09, 2007, 08:59:51 PM

Quote from: "trooper715"
QuoteStupid question. As I will be cosplaying as Bleach's Urahara, would his cane count as a weapon or would I be in the clear?

It should be fine, just don't hit anyone on the head with it, swing it around, etc.

Ah, thank you.

Fructose · April 10, 2007, 03:55:39 AM

I was wondering, what about carrying around a hammer, as in a carpenter's claw hammer? Would that be allowed, have to be peacebonded, etc.? It kinda falls under the same heading as a Winry cosplayer carrying around a real wrench.

Dagger-6 · April 10, 2007, 08:11:51 AM

Hmm...That sounds like it'd be pretty much up the discretion of the department head. So for that one, if you could wait a little while, I'll ask at the next staff meeting what the policy is about things such as tools.

I remember seeing some of the wrenches for Winry cosplays being just marked with a zip tie but not secured to the costume. But that was back in 2005 and the department head has changed since then.

Fructose · April 10, 2007, 10:14:29 PM

No problem waiting, thank you in advance for asking. I'll just make sure to check back, and at least with a hammer it's not like you spend months constructing it only to have it be disallowed.

MistRCaboose · April 17, 2007, 10:42:45 PM

I was wondering, does a wooden bokken count as a weapon? I'm planning on bringing one for my cosplay, and I was just wondering if it's considered a weapon or not.

Dagger-6 · April 18, 2007, 08:01:36 AM

Yes, wooden bokken counts as a weapon and would need to be secured appropriately.

MistRCaboose · April 18, 2007, 04:09:06 PM

Ah, I knew it. Thanks.

cocoavvie · April 18, 2007, 05:38:55 PM

Call me stupid if someone's already asked, but...

Is carrying around a rod made out of really light wood still considered dangerous and needed to be peace-bonded?

Dagger-6 · April 18, 2007, 11:13:16 PM

Hm....I can't say for sure. It'd be someone's judgement call, so I'd reccomend taking it to conops and having them check it out.

If it's a large sized rod (i.e. a staff), it will be tagged with a zip tie but you can carry it around, just be careful not to sling it over your shoulder.

I don't know why, but I have a mental image of a giant popsicle stick or something.

Bah, sorry I can't be more help on that one.

If you have an image or maybe could elaborate a little bit more I might be able to ask at the next staff meeting and come up with a clearer answer.

ClavigerBS · April 21, 2007, 03:15:20 AM

just so I'm clear on this.

If it has the appearance of a sword, or other such easily identified weapon, it's to be piece-bonded. Such as a bokken or home made wooden or plastic sword.

If it's something like a Kingdom Hearts Keyblade, which is more of an oversized key rather than a sword or such, it should be ok to just carry as long as it isn't used to hit people.

luckyends · April 21, 2007, 05:01:09 PM

i have a question
is my temari fan or my urahara cane considered weapons?

pockystix · April 21, 2007, 11:50:15 PM

Moving my question from a different thread...

Is it ok for me to carry around a small wooden deck brush? It's not too heavy...

Dagger-6 · April 23, 2007, 09:26:46 AM

Hey, I just want to apoligize for the slow reply. The department head was not at the staff meeting last saturday so I couldn't get any answers to your questions, and it appears that he will actually not be at meetings until May 19.

In order to get an answer to all of you sooner, I will try contacting him via e-mail, but as some of you who may have tried that route know that sometime's it's hard to elict a response through the interwebs.

But I'm working on it!

Some quick, unofficial responses going off of what's been discussed in previous meetings:

QuoteIf it has the appearance of a sword, or other such easily identified weapon, it's to be piece-bonded. Such as a bokken or home made wooden or plastic sword.

Correct.

Going off the 2006 policy which is pretty much what we're sticking to for 2007:

QuoteThe definition of a weapon for the purpose of this policy is anything that is, looks like, or might look like it is dangerous to anyone when viewed up to 20 feet away in poor light.

Going off that definition, a deck brush, oversized fan, and cane should not be considered weapons.

A giant keyblade should also be fine.

And again, the hammer I can't really make a good call on.

However, the final call is up to the head of the Rover department, which as I noted, I unfortunately could not get ahold of. =| As always, it is better to err on the side of caution and make a short 5 minute trip to the Rover office while at the con just so if anyone asks you can show you got an 'Okay' on your item. If you don't, a staff member may request that you get an item checked out at a later point in time, as aside from simply appearance, issues about construction such as metal or sharp pointy objects may need to be considered.

You never know. If a higher-up staff member feels there's a danger of someone poking someone's eye out with a giant key...then you need to get it checked out.

In the cases of oversized items that qualify as weapons, such as say, one of those wonderfully large and impracitcal anime swords or staff-like objects, they will be tagged and you will be reminded to make sure you are in control of your item and not accidently bopping people over the head or poking them in the eye with your giant stick of doom.

QuoteEven if the item is not attached to anything it must be peace bonded. For example, a 6 foot staff, a 10 foot sword etc. This will let staff know that you understand and agree with the policy as stated or amended.

Smaller sized items that qualify as a weapon will be secured to a costume so that they cannot be brandished about.

And as always, anything that resembles a firearm is a big no-no.

Again, I apoligize for my inability to get a definitive official answer, but I hope my responses help some of you feel at least a little more confident that you will not show up at Fanime only to be forced to walk around all day with a giant fan or key zip tied to your body.

ININ · April 28, 2007, 10:56:10 AM

trooper715, you may know the answer. Is ConOps going to open on Thursday during PreReg? If yes, can they check and peacebond weapons. I need get my Bleach sword checked and peacebonded. Thanks.

Prinny · January 21, 2008, 03:56:57 PM

Sorry about reviving an old topic, but..

For my costume i have a lance constructed out of aluminum sheet metal, it has a plastic tip and is about as dangerous as a slice of bread soaked in gravy.

Would the fact that its contructed out of sheet metal matter as long as its absolutely non-leathal without any sharp edges or pointy areas.

Can be seen here without cap:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m193/The_Desert_Punk/Arthur/102_0350.jpg

Only 5 hours old, ain't it cute?

luckyends · January 21, 2008, 06:22:34 PM

i got another question so if i had 10 plastic samurai swords would i have to get all of them piece tied?

Kouri Neko · January 21, 2008, 10:58:10 PM

If you can peace bond an air soft gun to the holster, why wasn't I given that option? I was told to put it away or it'll be taken away. In my opinion, the rules become more unclear every year. *boot to the head* to those who can't keep the rules straight. Enough said..

mangalover0410 · January 30, 2008, 07:04:28 PM

Just to clarify- something like a 10-foot wooden sword, still has to be peace bonded, but will not be attached to the costume?

ShikiIchijo · January 30, 2008, 11:23:18 PM

What's the weapons policy on a bow that I would only be stringing if I was asked to take pictures? Its like three to four feet. No projectiles of course.

ArynChris · February 09, 2008, 10:47:33 PM

<.< >.> <.< I'm not staff, but I can share personal experience from last year.

A) The rules are based on judgement, and everyone's judgement is different--and sometimes the same person will change their mind from year to year based on what they've seen happen.

B) My friend was last year's most popular Sephiroth. ^_^ (it's the wig, I tell you!) He had a 6 foot real sword and was made to tie it to his back as well as the regular zip-ties. It messed up his costume and made walking awkward, especially since the sword is longer than he is tall, but it was the only way they'd let him carry it around. He once drew it, out in front, to help make a video, but since got in mass tons of trouble because that violates California law.

C) I also saw ten-foot cardboard Inuyasha swords. :D Honestly, how can you secure that to a costume? It's huge! But they were still peace-bonded to remind the owners not to bop people on the head with them.

D) Last year I carried a wooden baseball bat... That's a weapon, my friends, 3-4 feet long. They peace-bonded it only after a lively debate among the staff and a LOT of questions about whether I could possibly, in any way at all, wear it as a costume piece instead of carrying it. I think the deciding factor was that I have a bad leg and mostly use it as a cane. XP Not sure if they'll let me do that two years in a row (which would suck, because I'd have to use the stupid crutches, but there you have it).