The Vault Dweller
always looking for water.
First of all let me warn you this could take a while to explain and I believe I may be making it more complicated than it needs to be, but...I need your help. First to answer a question I'm going to put forth and depending on the answer also getting recommendations and input on the design of something.
Let me get to the point then offer an explanation to not bore you.
I'm strongly considering cosplaying...as The Vault Dweller and doing most likely at an anime convention. Why is a long story...
I've always enjoyed seeing cosplayers both as friends online and in those galleries of pictures you find in various places. I mean sure its crazy, but you can tell they're having fun and though many dont look good some of them do such an incredible job of choosing quality materials and working long periods of time that the outfits look exactly as they should and its impressive! I've wondered if anyone has done any for any "Wasteland" themed games. Unfortunately in all my time here I've seen none. Given a little thought I figured I could never do something like that. Though I do know people who can give lots of advice on the subject or who will even do it for me for a price. I could do that, but I would feel it only proper if I made one. Being in that it would be so costly and take so much time this idea was never more than just a fleeting consideration...besides I was in no physical condition to look right.
That was years ago though. Way back when I first heard of conventions and cosplay. I decided I would eventually go to a convention once I felt I could justify taking a weekend off from work and be willing to spend around $200 to do so.
Now its three years later and much has changed. I've saved up enough money to go and I've earned a week's vacation from work that I can use whenever or turn down and get a free weeks pay. Also my first job had me doing physical labor 32 hours a week and I lost 30 pounds from 230 to 200. Whats even more is that I felt so much better about it, because relatively fast after getting the job I noticed I had more energy in spite of all the work I did and that whole year I never got sick which usually happens once or twice. In fact I hardly even had a few times where I had one mild symptom like a runny nose or coughing. I normally have that without getting sick a few weeks every year due to bad weather conditions. Although I took a different job after a year I felt that with my body accommodating such physical activity I could continue to stay in shape by exercising at home and the loss of time was worth it for the energy and health. Since then and up 'til now I weigh only 185, but whats more is that I did it by lifting weights. Now I'm no professional bodybuilder and there are probably people who only exercise at work and are in better condition than I am, but I think my physical state would be acceptable to try to cosplay. It occurred to me one day when I saw myself in the mirror while considering going to a convention this year.
Now first of all it will take quite some time to assemble and prepare an outfit. Also although I feel the size of my muscles would be acceptable I do feel I have a bit too much fat still. I recently went from doing an hour of exercise every other day to an hour and a half and the extra half being running since cardiovascular makes you leaner and previously I only weightlifted. Addittionally I have NUMEROUS questions for all of you regarding it seeing as this isnt so much a work to glorify me as much as pay tribute to the Fallout fandom or "Wasteland Themed" games as I call them. Let me remind everyone very intently that I know you have lots of questions, but for the sake of organization I'm asking you to please wait until after I post my first question and have it properly answered. Thing is I have lots of different possibilites and specifics to ask everyone for input on then decide on before I make the outfit and let me tell you that I have them organized in a list I will post AFTER this post.
The thing I need to ask and why I'm keeping this post separate is, because there's a single question that could mean I will or will not do this and if I come to the conclusion that making the outfit is a bad idea the concept of making it is a waste.
What I'm asking is this:
If I were to go to an anime convention dressed as The Vault Dweller from Fallout would anyone noticed and would anyone care enough to look into the game?
I should offer an explanation. When I was introduced to the game by a friend and subsequently played it I loved it and I dont need to explain to you people here why. Unfortunately my efforts to introduce others to the game has never gone well. As it turns out many people who play RPG's only play console and arent even aware of PC RPG's! Even so my attempts to tell are met with strict ignoring. My best explanation is that most RPG players are simply creatures of habit and since most people find consoles more accessible than PC's they prefer them. Thing is if I went to an anime convention although almost everyone would also be a fan of RPG's (almost all I meet are) I figure almost none of them play PC and no one will bother to notice my character. Another problem is that even if they do notice and I tell them about Fallout and more classically designed RPG's they may scoff and walk away thinking me crazy or perhaps just "being different for the sake of being different".
Therein lies the problem. I'm doing this to represent what I enjoy, but I fear no one will notice. I'm also doing this to expose people to something I know they'll at the very least love and perhaps lead them down the road to playing other PC RPG's which at the very least would provide them with more to play (console RPG fans often have fewer games coming out than they have time to play and are forced to replay them), but even more so would show them that there are RPG's that actually let you involve yourself in the story and not simply watch it from cutscene to cutscene. Like the way it was back in the D&D age before consoles and computers.
It seems somewhat proud and selfish. Like maybe I'm so above others I'm doing this to show off that I think I'm better than them or that I consider there form of entertainment inferior to mine. However if I could introduce only a handful to some real CRPG's new or old I'm sure there enjoyment will be well worth the effort especially since my one old friend who introduced me to Fallout (my first CRPG) had trouble convincing me to try the game.
I just have one last thing to say. When you respond I would like that everyone not only to give a "yes or no" answer as to whether its worth it, but if they could add any information they think would be relevant regardless of what it may be. Maybe you've done something like this in the past? Maybe you have friends who've done it? Maybe you think its dependent on alot of other factors that you could tell me? Give me any thought or opinion you think would help friend.
Thanks for reading this long post and I eagerly await your replys.
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
P.S.
Special thanks to all of you Tameneko for bothering to look into costume making and even more so Warmonger who planned and partially made combat armor for a convention. (I suspect he wants to finish it, but is currently distracted by business and forgot.)
Let me get to the point then offer an explanation to not bore you.
I'm strongly considering cosplaying...as The Vault Dweller and doing most likely at an anime convention. Why is a long story...
I've always enjoyed seeing cosplayers both as friends online and in those galleries of pictures you find in various places. I mean sure its crazy, but you can tell they're having fun and though many dont look good some of them do such an incredible job of choosing quality materials and working long periods of time that the outfits look exactly as they should and its impressive! I've wondered if anyone has done any for any "Wasteland" themed games. Unfortunately in all my time here I've seen none. Given a little thought I figured I could never do something like that. Though I do know people who can give lots of advice on the subject or who will even do it for me for a price. I could do that, but I would feel it only proper if I made one. Being in that it would be so costly and take so much time this idea was never more than just a fleeting consideration...besides I was in no physical condition to look right.
That was years ago though. Way back when I first heard of conventions and cosplay. I decided I would eventually go to a convention once I felt I could justify taking a weekend off from work and be willing to spend around $200 to do so.
Now its three years later and much has changed. I've saved up enough money to go and I've earned a week's vacation from work that I can use whenever or turn down and get a free weeks pay. Also my first job had me doing physical labor 32 hours a week and I lost 30 pounds from 230 to 200. Whats even more is that I felt so much better about it, because relatively fast after getting the job I noticed I had more energy in spite of all the work I did and that whole year I never got sick which usually happens once or twice. In fact I hardly even had a few times where I had one mild symptom like a runny nose or coughing. I normally have that without getting sick a few weeks every year due to bad weather conditions. Although I took a different job after a year I felt that with my body accommodating such physical activity I could continue to stay in shape by exercising at home and the loss of time was worth it for the energy and health. Since then and up 'til now I weigh only 185, but whats more is that I did it by lifting weights. Now I'm no professional bodybuilder and there are probably people who only exercise at work and are in better condition than I am, but I think my physical state would be acceptable to try to cosplay. It occurred to me one day when I saw myself in the mirror while considering going to a convention this year.
Now first of all it will take quite some time to assemble and prepare an outfit. Also although I feel the size of my muscles would be acceptable I do feel I have a bit too much fat still. I recently went from doing an hour of exercise every other day to an hour and a half and the extra half being running since cardiovascular makes you leaner and previously I only weightlifted. Addittionally I have NUMEROUS questions for all of you regarding it seeing as this isnt so much a work to glorify me as much as pay tribute to the Fallout fandom or "Wasteland Themed" games as I call them. Let me remind everyone very intently that I know you have lots of questions, but for the sake of organization I'm asking you to please wait until after I post my first question and have it properly answered. Thing is I have lots of different possibilites and specifics to ask everyone for input on then decide on before I make the outfit and let me tell you that I have them organized in a list I will post AFTER this post.
The thing I need to ask and why I'm keeping this post separate is, because there's a single question that could mean I will or will not do this and if I come to the conclusion that making the outfit is a bad idea the concept of making it is a waste.
What I'm asking is this:
If I were to go to an anime convention dressed as The Vault Dweller from Fallout would anyone noticed and would anyone care enough to look into the game?
I should offer an explanation. When I was introduced to the game by a friend and subsequently played it I loved it and I dont need to explain to you people here why. Unfortunately my efforts to introduce others to the game has never gone well. As it turns out many people who play RPG's only play console and arent even aware of PC RPG's! Even so my attempts to tell are met with strict ignoring. My best explanation is that most RPG players are simply creatures of habit and since most people find consoles more accessible than PC's they prefer them. Thing is if I went to an anime convention although almost everyone would also be a fan of RPG's (almost all I meet are) I figure almost none of them play PC and no one will bother to notice my character. Another problem is that even if they do notice and I tell them about Fallout and more classically designed RPG's they may scoff and walk away thinking me crazy or perhaps just "being different for the sake of being different".
Therein lies the problem. I'm doing this to represent what I enjoy, but I fear no one will notice. I'm also doing this to expose people to something I know they'll at the very least love and perhaps lead them down the road to playing other PC RPG's which at the very least would provide them with more to play (console RPG fans often have fewer games coming out than they have time to play and are forced to replay them), but even more so would show them that there are RPG's that actually let you involve yourself in the story and not simply watch it from cutscene to cutscene. Like the way it was back in the D&D age before consoles and computers.
It seems somewhat proud and selfish. Like maybe I'm so above others I'm doing this to show off that I think I'm better than them or that I consider there form of entertainment inferior to mine. However if I could introduce only a handful to some real CRPG's new or old I'm sure there enjoyment will be well worth the effort especially since my one old friend who introduced me to Fallout (my first CRPG) had trouble convincing me to try the game.
I just have one last thing to say. When you respond I would like that everyone not only to give a "yes or no" answer as to whether its worth it, but if they could add any information they think would be relevant regardless of what it may be. Maybe you've done something like this in the past? Maybe you have friends who've done it? Maybe you think its dependent on alot of other factors that you could tell me? Give me any thought or opinion you think would help friend.
Thanks for reading this long post and I eagerly await your replys.
Sincerely,
The Vault Dweller
P.S.
Special thanks to all of you Tameneko for bothering to look into costume making and even more so Warmonger who planned and partially made combat armor for a convention. (I suspect he wants to finish it, but is currently distracted by business and forgot.)
Whoa...