If someone was dressed like this what would you think?

[backtoschoolagainagain]

This is for an event where you wear costumes.

What would you think they'd come as / were trying to look like?

(Having a slight disagreement with DS!)

Thanks :)

As a LARPer myself I wouldnt worry too much. It's a theme and anyone at the event will immediately get what he's meant to be.

If you are worried then you can always ask him to put the costume on at the event.

But these things are huge amounts of fun and having an interest is a great thing.

@flashpaper

Definitely getting nazi vibes from the eagle shape on his hat

Yes, that's what I said too. (Only it looks like an owl to me! But a very eagle-like owl)

I think it'll be ok OP. Even if they don't know that particular character, they'll know it's a costume of some sort. Outfits like that aren't entirely unusual within comics/gaming/sci-fi, it's very efficient visual shorthand for "baddies".

Nazi

My take is that if he did manage to look like the image, he might get away with it. With actual clothes he might look too much like a nazi.
I wouldn't encourage him, just in case he wants to run for PM when he's older, for example. On the other hand... maybe he should.

@Stellaris22

As a LARPer myself I wouldnt worry too much. It's a theme and anyone at the event will immediately get what he's meant to be.

If you are worried then you can always ask him to put the costume on at the event.

But these things are huge amounts of fun and having an interest is a great thing.

But these things are huge amounts of fun and having an interest is a great thing.

Totally agree with this.

Still unnerved by DS wantign to parade about looking like a Nazi though and wish he'd choose another theme!

Why not a nice Ork, for example...

Trying to work out if this is a battle worth picking.

Nazi costume? No. A very clear line there.

But, a costume that looks like a Nazi outfit to people who aren't in the know? My instinct is saying no! AIBU?

It's 100% not Nazi. It looks Warhammer or steampunk, slightly Japanese inspired. Very cool look these days among a certain genre of PC and tabletop gamers as well as anime and cosplayers.

This look has been around for well over 20 years now and he will look great among his peers. I couldn't be more for it.

@backtoschoolagainagain
I immediately though "Warhammer" and I'm not in to Warhammer at all. If you have "geeky" interests you will know something about it by pure osmosis.
I do go to (one) comic convention most years though and Nazi definitely won't be most anyone's first thought (maybe if he takes public transport on the way there).

Just read your updates. I think wearing it to comic con is different to wearing it trick or treating, for example.

It's warhammer but you wouldn't know unless you know

Coat is definitely kind of ww2 german general. It's a bit iffy.

The costume guidelines for the event say:

If your cosplay is deemed to be offensive to the casual observer, it will not be allowed inside the event.

• In accordance with our Anti-Harassment Policy, any reference or symbol relating to a body that insights violence, hatred or discrimination in any form is strictly forbidden.

• Consider the "social media" test. If you were photographed and the image went viral, would the general public be offended by your outfit? If the answer is yes, then please do not bring your costume to the event.

Steampunk airship captain?

Yeah there is something about the hat that isn't ideal. It's a bit too 'prince Harry at a costume party' for my tastes. I would choose something else.

Is this character part of the army he collects (I'm assuming a special character) or is it just that he likes the aesthetics of the character?

Could you look at other models in his collection to find something you're both comfortable with?

I don't play Warhammer/40K myself but familiar with the armies.

@Stellaris22

Is this character part of the army he collects (I'm assuming a special character) or is it just that he likes the aesthetics of the character?

Could you look at other models in his collection to find something you're both comfortable with?

I don't play Warhammer/40K myself but familiar with the armies.

I'm not sure. He usually plays Orks. And he has some nighthaunts too. I'm not sure if he has this army, I'll have to ask.

But I know he likes the look. He watches anime that has characters with a similar look in it I think.

Looking for other models in the same army to see if there are any that are less Nazi-like but still acceptable to DS is a good call, thanks.

If its Comic Con, most people will know its probably Warhammer 40k, i've friends who're seriously into cosplay and make the competition winning type costumes for these places, based heavily on either Warhammer, or World of Warcraft.

I don't particularly like that one in the OP, it does have Red Skull/Nazi-ish vibes, so if it was more of a general cosplay thing, i'd say no, but in the case of Comic Con, it would probably pass. That being said, there are plenty of other characters in Warhammer that would be less nazi-esque.

Warhammer - Looks like Commander Gaunt to me. Possibly Steam punk...

Yea I don’t think you should let him dress in something that could be mistaken for a Nazi costume.

The “social media” test in the guidelines is very sensible… a photo could come back in 20 years to haunt him and damage career etc, and there’ll be no point explaining it was a war hammer costume.

a photo could come back in 20 years to haunt him and damage career etc, and there’ll be no point explaining it was a war hammer costume.

That is a very good point. Thank you.

@backtoschoolagainagain

The costume guidelines for the event say:

If your cosplay is deemed to be offensive to the casual observer, it will not be allowed inside the event.

• In accordance with our Anti-Harassment Policy, any reference or symbol relating to a body that insights violence, hatred or discrimination in any form is strictly forbidden.

• Consider the "social media" test. If you were photographed and the image went viral, would the general public be offended by your outfit? If the answer is yes, then please do not bring your costume to the event.

well I reckon that it doesn't pass that test. Larp and cosplay events are well aware that their events happen in the real world and it won't only be attenders who see the costumes. Point three underlines this. It would be a no from me and more importantly it looks like it would be a no from the organisers too. I can get with the red lapels but the hat is a hard no....and as the rules say, it doesn't matter that other attenders will know what it is. I mean does he want to be told he can't wear his costume or worse, kicked out of the even altogether?

warhammer40k.fandom.com/wiki/Ibram_Gaunt

I definitely knew it was Warhammer. Doesn't look like a Nazi at all. No swastika, futuristic gun and gas mask, lots of gold trim. The gas mask is properly warhammer 40k. The fight against Chaos.... He's going to an event full of geeks who know this sort of stuff, no-one will be confused!

If your cosplay is deemed to be offensive to the casual observer, it will not be allowed inside the event.

I think your DS costume would fail this hurdle, the casual observer would not think Warhammer they would think Nazi.

Nazi

Straight away that's what I thought :-(

@Saucery

Some sort of steampunk General?

I was just about to comment “A steampunk general”, thought it was a weird, not-a-thing comment and so glad someone else put it first