Sakura-Con Cosplay Chess Rules

Sakura-Con Cosplay Chess Rules:

Brief Overview

Come see your favorite characters battle it on a giant chessboard stage! Cosplay Chess is an event where convention attendees in cosplay serve as the pieces. At the direction of their respective kings they will move, fight and die live on stage.

Eligibility

Cosplay Chess All Ages

This event is open to all registered convention attendees. You must have a valid Sakura-Con badge for the day of the match in order to participate.

Cosplay Chess: After Dark

Participants in Cosplay Chess: After Dark must have a valid Sakura-Con Adult badge and obtain a Mature Audience Stamp provided by the convention. You must be able to prove that you are 18 years of age (photo identification). No minors are allowed to participate in this match under any circumstances.

General Information

How to Participate

Those wishing to participate must complete the online registration form in full. Partial applications (ex. missing picture of Cosplay, no valid email address, etc.) will not be considered. Registration for Cosplay Chess is not first-come, first-serve; participants will be selected based on experience and quality of the costume. Be certain to read rules for Cosplay Chess and all Sakura-Con policies before applying.

The Game

There will be 32 chess pieces, as per an average game of chess. Alternates will also be selected in the event participants drop out or miss the pre-meeting. Battles requiring unspecified extras for special attacks shall have the roll filled by an alternate.

The Battle

When a move is made by the kings that result in a piece being taken, a battle will take place.
All pieces, except the two involved, will remove themselves from the board and the two pieces will battle. The use of special attacks and moves is encouraged.
The two pieces will battle and put on a show for the audience, and the loser will .die. in a dramatic way. Ideal timing for a battle is 2-4 minutes, though officially there is no time limit.
The loser will leave the board and observe the remainder of the match; they can get back into the game if a pawn makes it to the end.
After the losing piece leaves the board, all the remaining pieces will return to their previous positions. Positions will not be marked, so you will have to remember the number of your space before the battle started.
If a microphone or assistance of any other kind is needed for your battle, please arrange something with one of the stage ninjas before the game or, preferably, at the pre-game meeting.

The Rules

There shall be little or no physical contact between pieces not currently engaged in battle. During a battle, you may not touch the piece you are "fighting" unless they consent prior to the game. Battles must still adhere to all Sakura-Con policies and must not cause harm (bodily or otherwise) to other participants. If you fail to abide by any Sakura-Con policies, you shall be removed from the game immediately and handed over to Sakura-Con Attendee Services.
All entries must be easily recognizable characters from manga, anime, video games, or another form of popular media.
All costumes must:

Follow all convention policies (nudity, props, etc. This includes peace bonding. See part c in of this for more detail.)
Be self-contained, with no electrical plugs or other outside support required. A costume should be something that the applicant can move in. If your costume is bulky, heavy, or awkward, an explanation should be included with the application explaining in detail how the design of the costume will still allow for enough movement to participate in Cosplay Chess.
All weapons must adhere to the convention's weapon policy and must be peace-bonded. If Staff believes the player is violating the rules of peace-bonding, that player will be removed from the board and replaced.
No props or stage accessories that leave behind material will be allowed. This means no confetti, no fake blood, no rose petals or anything else that could disrupt everyone's footing or damage the convention space.
Images of your costume must be submitted with your application. In the event the costume you wish to apply with is not currently finished, include pictures of a previous costume and any pictures you can of the unfinished product. Remember to include your name, contact info (MUST have a valid email address) and the name/series of the character you are playing. You may submit more than one costume for consideration.
Participants will be selected based on previous experience (both in events such as Cosplay Chess/Cosplay Contest and in theatrical works outside of conventions) and based on the quality of the costume.
Participants will be chosen and notified of their position at least 2 weeks before the convention and will be required to attend an online meeting and mandatory pre-game meeting. In the event that you cannot attend at least one of the online meetings, please email us at Sakura-Con Cosplay to make other arrangements. If you do not attend the pre-game meeting, you will forfeit your place and it will be filled by an alternate.