Disallowed Weapons
Permitted Weapons
Behavior with Weapons

Weapons Policy

If it's illegal outside the convention, it's illegal inside the convention.

For any and all props, or anything resembling a weapon (referred to simply as weapons below) to be permitted inside the convention, you must get the approval of the Otakuthon Weapons Master prior to entering the convention proper. The Weapons Master will label and/or peace bond the weapons, if need be.

Disallowed Weapons

Disallowed weapons include:

• Projectile weapons of any sort, including but not limited to guns, bows, bolas, shuriken, sling shots, water pistols, and Nerf items, regardless of if they can fire projectiles.
• Firearms. (Fake firearms are allowed if they are obviously fake at a distance of no less than 20 ft (7 m)).
• "Live" metal of any type, be there an edge or not, including sheathed, wrapped, and/or covered weapons.
• Tazers, brass knuckles, knight sticks, nunchucks, pepper spray, or other items that qualify you as armed under the Criminal Code of Canada (link: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-46/280485.html).
• Explosives or chemicals of any kind including, but not limited to, smoke powder, stink bombs, sparklers, and fireworks.
• Any prop weighing more than 50 pounds (22 kg) or longer than 10 ft (3 m).

Any weapons confiscated by the convention staff will be stored in the registration area and can be picked up when you leave the convention. Confiscated weapons will not be provided for use in the masquerade.

You are expected to act responsibly with your weapon and be in control of it at all times. Any damage towards Concordia University's or Otakuthon's property, and any injuries that occur due to your weapon are your responsibility.

All decisions made by Concordia University's security are final and take precedence over this policy.

Permitted Weapons

Any replicas made out of papier-mâché, cardboard, or equivalent are acceptable as long as staff and volunteers can distinguish them as such at 10 feet (3 m). This excludes fake firearms, which must be distinguishable at 20 ft (7 m).

Blunt wooden weapons (e.g. staves, bokens, clubs, warhammers) are permitted.

Behavior with Weapons

Misuse of any weapon or prop, such as swinging it in a public area, using it to threaten, harass or cause hazards, will result in the weapon or prop being deemed unsafe for the convention.

The masquerade team may impose additional rules on how you are expected to behave with your weapon while you are on stage and also before and after the masquerade while the masquerade team is responsible for your weapon.

If you have any questions, please contact the Otakuthon Weapons Master (weapons@otakuthon.com). While the Weapons Master may offer advice on which weapons are appropriate, we reserve the right to reclassify any weapons regardless of any information given prior to the convention.

Peacebonding means putting a bright plastic tie on your "weapon" indicating that it has been judged relatively harmless and/or is being bound into a holder of some sort that renders it so. These ties can only be removed by cutting them, making it obvious if tampering should occur.

Otakuthon reserves the right to confiscate any weapons for the duration of the convention or to escort you outside the convention area and forbid you to return with the weapon. Aggravated or repeated failure to obey the above policy may result in expulsion from the convention without refund.