Summary:

• All cosplays must adhere to the convention rules with regards to dress and props.
• Good sportsmanship is required. An entrant can be removed from the Cosplay Masquerade and disqualified from future shows for poor sportsmanship.
• There are two classes (Adventurer and Artificer) for handmade costumes, with slightly different requirements for each: Adventurer entries must have made 50% or more of their cosplay. Artificer entries must have made 80% or more of their cosplay. There is one class (Bard) for performance-only entries.
• Best in Show and Best Adventurer are weighted at 35% craftsmanship, 30% accuracy and/or creativity, 5% sustainability, and 30% performance.
• Bard and Adventurer entrants aged 12-15 must be registered by their parent/guardian and accompanied during pre-judging and backstage. Artificer entries must be aged 16 or over.
• Only one entry per person per event.
• Groups are capped at 6 people and qualify for all categories/prizes depending on their class.
• Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance. Performances are not automatically accepted, and the cosplay team reserves the right to reject performances that are unfit for the Cosplay Masquerade.
• Online progress books or WIP photo folders are required, but are not judged competitively.
• If the cosplay team receives more applications than spots available, priority will be given to entrants who submit the most thorough application forms, including complete performance plans and detailed WIP photos.
• You must complete the pre-check process in advance of the show to validate your entry.
• An advanced waitlist system will operate once all spots are filled. There will be no on-the day registrations.
• You must check in, either online or at the Cosplay Village, on the day of your entry by 12pm. Failure to do so may result in you being marked as a no-show and your spot given to someone on the waitlist.
• All performances must be under 120 seconds/two minutes.
• Performances must be family friendly and safe for the audience and performer. Cosplayers must be able to move on the stage unassisted, or have their own handler attending with them.
• By entering the competition you agree that your photo and video may be taken by attendees while onstage and in the stage area, and that MegaCon Live, Guild of Nerds, and other subsidiaries of these entities may use your image for advertising or sponsor purposes.

LINK TO FULL MEGACON LIVE COSPLAY MASQUERADE RULESET: http://guildofnerds.org/megacon-masquerade-rules/

The rules for ECG season 14 will be the same as season 12 and 13, which can be found here. Please note, the ECG Qualifier will use this ruleset, NOT the MegaCon Cosplay Masquerade ruleset. Some (not all) of the differences include:

• Eligibility requirements, eg. citizenship or permanent residency;
• 50% craftsmanship and 50% performance weighting;
• Only groups of between 1 and 4 people are permitted;
• Different performance lengths for different sized groups (ie. more people get longer on stage)
• Stage ninjas are only permitted for groups of up to 3 people;
• A strict time limit on how long your stage set-up can take;
• Live microphones are not permitted.

For further information about taking part in the Extreme Cosplay Gathering, please refer to our ECG Handbook. This is not an essential document, but aims to compile all the information you might need to prepare your entry.