Cosplay Rules

The following guidelines and rules have been drawn up taking into account the German Weapons Act, its implementing provisions and annexes.

Prohibited weapons do not belong at the convention and should be left at home, as they will not be accepted at the weapons check and cannot be stored for the duration of the event.

The following types of weapons/props are prohibited at HanaCon:

  • Real firearms, airsoft guns of any kind, gas pistols, alarm guns (whether loaded or unloaded)
  • Irritant spray devices
  • Replicas of firearms and decorative firearms
  • Yellow blasters of any kind
  • Ammunition of any kind
  • Pyrotechnics and explosive devices (firecrackers, rockets, etc.)
  • Throwing weapons (e.g. throwing stars, throwing darts, throwing knives)
  • Brass knuckles, truncheons, steel rods
  • Strangulation weapons (e.g. nunchucks)
  • Bladed and edged weapons with sharp or blunt metal blades or with points (e.g. katanas, swords, sabres, spears, morning stars)
  • Knives of any kind (except those required for the crew to carry out their duties)
  • Crossbows and functional bows (bows with a real string)
  • Arrows capable of being fired, with or without a tip
  • Symbols that are anti-constitutional or classified
  • Spikes and studs over 5 cm and/or pointed
  • Official uniforms and insignia
    (The police, fire service, THW and emergency services are, of course, not affected)

 

Props and weapons that have been flagged can be handed in at the Cosplay Check and will be stored there for the duration of your stay in the convention building. You will be given a receipt here, which you must present at the Cosplay Check when leaving the convention to collect your props.

You must hand in these weapons/props at the weapons check when entering the building:

  • All props over 1.5 m in length (swords measured including the scabbard)
  • Cutting and thrusting weapons with blades made of solid wood, hard plastic, etc. (e.g. katanas, swords, sabres, knives)
  • Sticks or poles consisting predominantly of wood, metal, fibreglass, hard plastic or combinations thereof, including multi-part items (e.g. kendo equipment, bamboo swords, lances, etc.)
  • Arrows suitable for shooting in LARP
  • Riding crops and hand whips over 1 m
  • Stick whips with a stick over 1 m and a strap over 1.5 m in length

 

Permitted props may be carried on your person within the convention premises during the event. These will be marked and thus identified as having been inspected by the “Cosplay Check”. The marking must also be presented at the entrance check!
The owner of these items is solely responsible for any damage caused. HanaCon e.V. accepts no liability for this.

You must present these weapons and props at the Cosplay Check to have them marked:

  • Replica weapons made of foam, rubber, cardboard, soft plastic, Worbla and foam
  • Sticks that are clearly recognisable as being used solely for stabilisation
  • Nerf blasters without ammunition, provided that specific models are not listed under ‘prohibited’ (e.g. Gelblaster, Reval series)
  • LARP weapons (“Live Action Role Play”, generally foam or latex replicas with a stabilising core)
  • Weapons and staffs made from a combination of light wood (e.g. plywood) and/or cardboard/plastic/soft material (provided the wood does not constitute the majority of the material)
  • Sticks under 1.5m
  • Non-functional bows and crossbows (no functional string or cannot be drawn)
  • Arrows that cannot be fired without a tip (arrows without a notch at the nock end)
  • Riding crops, whips (provided they are not listed among the prohibited weapons)
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