Hmmm! Well I'd certainly agree they definately add something to the cosplay! On a related note, does anyone know any bite-size German phrases I can learn for Holy Roman Empire? Mainly I need chat-up lines.

Their not needed for a cosplay but if you can get the voice on or at least create one that relates thats great I always try impressions and ask friends what they really think, if it sucks then I just act out their personality rather than the voice too... if this makes sence? Sorry I'm ramblering now

mein gott en himmel - My God in Heaven!

I find being in character helps me meet people ^^ At the Ame ball I was Cissnei from Crisis Core. I first met Defrain because he was in his Zack Fair cosplay and I just walked up to him and said "ZACK! I've been looking all over for you!" and he immediately replied with "CISSNEEEEIIII! I was just... yeah!"

It's great when people join in with you, you have to take the good with the bad though! Some people just look confused!

I love doing voice impersonations of characters i've cosplayed seeing i love doing any sort of impersonation. though i rarely do it since its a mainly keep to myself thing

Absolutely. Me and my mood swings do not always agree with the constant hyper-activity of most cosplayers anyway. It would be wonderful to meet an auron (for example) who wasn't busy being chibi with sakura. Then again, it is energizing when people keep a happy mood throughout the con, regardless of how you happen to feel, and regardless of their emoking cosplays (like, say, sasuke).
Furthermore, I happen to enjoy cosplaying violent emotards myself, but I do allow myself to smile when I feel like it.
I guess maybe just keeping a steady balance would be best. Try to think about when you should be roleplaying and when you shouldn't. I have a sad feeling that roleplayers is a dying breed though, so I suppose I shouldn't set my hopes too high for people to agree with me on this.

Its funny if you can do it. But if you can't it doesn't really matter. I'm stupidly shy (i really shouldn't have taken gcse drama...) so I would NEVER be able to get into character. But people that can are totally awesome.