Cosplaying as a concept

[Living Bobbeh]

Before I start, I apologise if the title is misleading. This is not the thread you think it is.

At the start of October I will be going to the Eurogamer Expo in London. A bunch of my friends are now going and one of them suggested going in costume. I'm fine with this but I have a problem: I need to wear glasses. I have squareish glasses and I don't have any other pairs, nor will I wear contacts.

So after brainstorming for a while, we came up with either an Elite Beat Agent (http://www.gamesbasement.co.uk/userfiles/image/EBA%201.jpg) or as Gideon Gordon Graves (http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/still/scott_pilgrim_vs_the_world36.jpg) from Scott Pilgrim. Both of which require me to buy a suit, which seems a bit much for a one day expo.

So then I thought: What about going as a flag runner? I'd dress all in red and run around with a blue flag strapped to my back. (Alternatively, all in blue with a red flag) It's an easy costume to make, I can just wear the t-shirt as I like afterwards, and I get a flag that I've always wanted.

But is this something that people would "Get"? Would people be confused as to why I have a flag, or wonder why I haven't come as a particular game's flag runner? Is it just a bit lazy? I need to know.

[Lumenskir]

Doesn't Gideon wear an outfit of just jeans/pants and one of his company shirts (requiring only a plain shirt to draw/whatever the 3Gs logo onto it) in the comics? Get the hair right and proper fake sword and you should be set.

[Living Bobbeh]

But where does it draw the line between being that character and just being a guy that wears the shirt referencing the comics? I'll do some research later.

The other thing is how feasible and comfortable to have a flag pole stuck to your back for several hours? I'm not planning on getting a huge one, but attaching it to my back somehow seems like it could be uncomfortable and impracticable.

[Lumenskir]

But where does it draw the line between being that character and just being a guy that wears the shirt referencing the comics? I'll do some research later.
That's sort of even better. If people don't know who you are you get to act haughty and inform them that you are THE Gideon Graves. But, if someone goes up to you and says you look like Gideon Graves, you get to inform them that they are mistaken and you are actually Mobile/Scott's brother/what have you.

Also, I have no idea what a flag runner is.

[Terex4]

Out of curiosity, why won't you wear contacts? I don't know cosplay characters very well but I do know optics and I might be able to help you figure out something to do with/about the glasses.

[TDK]

Also, I have no idea what a flag runner is.

With reference to the thread title, I believe he's referring to cosplaying as the 'concept' of a flag runner (ie: the guy on the team in CTF who goes and captures the flag and brings it back) rather than a Spartan flag runner or a TF2 flag runner or whatever.

[Living Bobbeh]

Out of curiosity, why won't you wear contacts? I don't know cosplay characters very well but I do know optics and I might be able to help you figure out something to do with/about the glasses.

I tried them before and it just didn't work out for me.

I'll investigate the GGG t-shirt. But if there's any other ideas that don't stem from anime/manga, I'm all ears. (Don't say Gordon Freeman)

[Mannix]

So, let me get this straight: you want to cosplay but you don't want to make or buy a costume?

I guess you could put some makeup on and tell people you're a Left 4 Dead zombie.

Also, if you re-think the costume idea you could go as this guy (http://www.google.com/images?q=gordon+freeman&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ZLNqTJ_vCoSosQP05egK&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CEAQsAQwAw&biw=1600&bih=868&ei=abNqTLmaEIamsQO6h6HHDw&gbv=2).

[bluestarultor]

If you want to go as a flag runner, TF2 is easy to pull off. Just go as a Scout. Get a red or blue tee, some khaki shorts, long, white socks, a baseball cap, and a cheap headset from Target or something. If you don't want to pop for athletic shoes, just wear black sneakers and carry around a baseball bat or something (if that's allowed, or paint a Nerf bat).

[Terex4]

You can also get a pair of the over Rx sunglasses that with a little doctoring can resemble tinted goggles. If your frames are thick, tinting is fairly cheap and can be stripped later (if you go really dark you may have a small amount of tint left) and that can be done in a variety of colors.

[Flarecobra]

Could always go as "The Kid" from IWBTG... >_>

[Jagos]

He wouldn't last two seconds since touching the ground could kill him.

[TIME BOMB]

go as an aquabat! Although i could see the glasses getting in the way of that a little..

[krogothwolf]

You could go as Clark Kent!!!

A Lab Coated Gordon Freeman?

Put little Orange filmy things over your glasses and go as Travis Touchdown?

[EVILNess]

You could grow a beard, get a cane, throw on some old jeans and a t-shirt.

Walk with a limp and suddenly you are Dr. House MD.

[Living Bobbeh]

The GGG shirt. It exists:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11011214

(May be UK only, sorry)

[Hanuman]

Try wearing contacts harder?

[bluestarultor]

Crap. Forgot about the glasses. In that case, grow your hair out and go as Otacon.