Are you new at Fastaval? On this page, you can find answers to some of the questions that new participants or parents often have about Fastaval. You can also contact us at info@fastaval.dk.
Practical information about time, place, price, and transportation can be found here.
Fastaval is a convention focused on role-playing and board games. Every year, 800-1000 people gather to play games, attend workshops, party, swap items, and geek out together across all ages.
Fastaval is a collection of many different activities that exist under the same umbrella. Here you can play Pathfinder role-playing games, Magic the Gathering, and Warhammer, or you can play some of the fantastic designer board games and premiere role-playing games that Fastaval’s own participants have contributed and which are some of the best in the world.
Fastaval can best be described as a five-day mini-community where everything you need is on the convention grounds. Fastaval has its own kiosk, bar, and coffee shop with luxury coffee and board games available for loan. Just like every year, a number of shops come to sell their merchandise to participants.
Fastaval also has its own TV crew, its own unique cleaning crew armed with mops and cleaning products, and its own information stand ready to answer any questions along the way.
Fastaval always takes place during Easter, from Wednesday to Monday. Since 2012, Fastaval has been held in Hobro at Mariagerfjord Gymnasium.
Fastaval has many organizers who volunteer their time and energy to make the convention run smoothly. Here you can read about some of the areas of organization that you are likely to come into contact with during Fastaval:
- Main organizers: Fastaval has a primary steering committee led by one main organizer, whom we call “the General.” You can read about the main organizers here. During Fastaval, the main organizers take turns being the General on Duty and having overall responsibility for the convention. You can read more about the General on Duty here.
- Info: Information stand that can answer all your questions about Fastaval during the convention. Read more about Info here.
- DirtBusters: Cleaning crew that keeps Fastaval clean. Read more about Dirtbusters here.
Fastaval registration opens around two months before Fastaval. You can find information about this year’s registration here or you can follow us on Facebook, where the registration will be published when it is ready.
- Before registering: If you’re about to register for this year’s Fastaval, it’s a good idea to read about this year’s activities first so you have an idea of what you want to do. It’s also a good idea to know in advance what type of ticket you need. You can find information about tickets here.
- The practicalities: In the registration form, you start by filling in practical information. Then you will be presented with different ticket types, accommodation options, food and ALEA membership.
- Activities: After you’ve signed up for the practicalities, you can sign up for activities. Fastaval is a big place with a lot of different activities, so at first glance it can seem a bit overwhelming. But keep your wits about you and you’ll be fine, you can always go back and make corrections along the way. You can sign up for activities in different game blocks each day, but you don’t have to sign up for activities in all game blocks. You can also sign up for multiple activities at the same time, but this means that you have to prioritize them in order (If you’re going to be a game leader on a scenario, you can prioritize it sl.1). We have a team of team leaders who try to make the puzzle work so that everyone gets as many first priorities as possible.
- A Joint Fastaval: If you are not an organizer at Fastaval, you will be asked to help with something else. Fastaval can only exist if we all lend a helping hand. There are four options: Game Leader, Rules Facilitator, Setup Team or Hero Force. The tasks vary depending on your choice. Each option will be described in more detail in the registration. Of course, we make sure that your assigned tasks do not overlap with your other activities. If you’re under 18, you can’t help out in a place that serves alcohol. Read more about the Hero Force here.
- Your personal program: Once registration for this year’s activities is closed, we’ll start creating your program for this year’s Fastaval. About a week before Fastaval, you will receive a “participant email” where you can see which activities we have assigned to you. Please note that there may be minor changes up to Fastaval. Remember to check your program at Information when you arrive at Fastaval. You can also see your activities on your phone if you download the Fastaval app (available for both Android and iPhone).
- When you arrive at Fastaval, the first thing you need to do is check in. You do this at the Info desk, where orange-clad volunteers are ready to greet you and give you a wristband. This applies to both participants who will be at Fastaval for several days and participants with day tickets.
- Next, you need to find your sleeping space. Depending on which sleeping option you selected in the registration, you will need to find the right room and put your luggage there. Ask Information for directions if you are unsure.
- Now your Fastaval can begin in earnest. Whether you’re playing a board game in the coffee shop, having a delicious drink in Otto’s living room, visiting one of the shops or getting ready for the many exciting activities.
If you are a participant with an overnight ticket for Fastaval, you have a place in the regular dormitory. You must bring all the necessary sleeping equipment including mattress or mattress pad. Unless you have ordered a mattress through registration.
NOTE! If you bring an inflatable mattress, it must be inflated outside the dormitory.
Inside the dormitory, markings are made with tape on the floor. You are not allowed to sleep outside the markings for fire safety reasons. The same goes for your luggage.
At the dormitory you’ll find communal toilets and gender-segregated shower facilities. Private showers are available if you have special needs. Please contact Information.
During Fastaval, the dormitory will be relatively dark, with a few lights on the walkways, so if you need extra light to guide you to your seat, you can use your phone or bring a flashlight – just make sure to be considerate of the other participants.
There is a General on Duty (responsible main organizer) on duty around the clock who you can always turn to if any problems arise. Simply call tel. 93 90 35 69
Participants who have a dormitory ticket are given a special participant wristband, which may be checked by the General on Duty. Only participants with a dormitory wristband are allowed in the dormitory.
If you are enrolled with your youth or continuation school, you can choose to sleep in a separate youth dormitory where only other young people under the age of 18 sleep.
Accommodation is also offered in a quiet and sober dormitory. This is for people with special needs and/or people who are sober at Fastaval and want to sleep near people who are also sober.
Fastaval has two bars: Baren and Ottos Stue. Both are located at Hobro Sports Center, which is 200 meters away from Mariagerfjord Gymnasium. Read about Fastaval’s rules regarding alcohol here.
Fastaval also has a social policy that we expect all our participants to comply with. Read more about the social policy and safety here.
Fastaval ends on Monday morning, when the lights are turned on in the dormitories and everyone packs their things. There will be free breakfast for everyone who helps pack up Fastaval. After that, we will all help clean up and tidy up. If you don’t know how you can help, please report to an organizer in the common area. Once Fastaval is tidy again, you can go home.
There can, of course, be many different reasons why a participant cannot take part in the clean-up. Fastaval cannot and will not force you to stay for the whole of Monday. But it is worth remembering that Fastaval only exists because we do it together and help each other.
Fastavallingo: Fastaval has been around since 1986, which means that over the years, the convention has developed its own lingo and unique concepts. This can be a little annoying if you are new to Fastaval and other participants use terms you don’t know. For example, what is a DB or an Infonaut, and who is this Otto guy? Fastaval therefore has a dictionary where you can read about various concepts and words that are unique to Fastaval. Read the dictionary here.
Volunteering: Fastaval is run by volunteers who are truly passionate about the convention. But the wheels only turn because everyone helps each other and everyone pitches in. Some design games, others organize activities, some work at the Information Desk, but the vast majority of participants take on one or more Hero tasks. Read more about the Hero Force here.
Help each other: At Fastaval, we strive to create a culture where we can always help each other. Therefore, you can always ask other participants or the organizers for help. If you need information or are looking for a specific organizer, you can always ask at the Info desk.
Money: At Fastaval, you can pay by card and MobilePay. PLEASE NOTE! It is no longer possible to pay with cash at Fastaval.
Reserve queue: If, for some reason, you have a game block with no activities and would like to try playing a premiere scenario, you can always join the reserve queue. The reserve queue consists of a number roll (like at the bakery) that is posted one hour before the game starts. Once you have drawn a number, you can sit down nearby and relax until the game starts. You can use the time to read the previews of this year’s premiere scenarios, which are posted nearby. When the game starts, you will be greeted by an infonaut who will tell you which scenarios have space available. The reserve queue does not guarantee that you will get a place in your desired scenario, but many people have good experiences via the reserve queue. You will find the reserve queue in the common area at Mariagerfjord Gymnasium.
Game distribution: Some of Fastaval’s activities require participants to be divided into teams. This applies, for example, if you have signed up for the premiere scenarios and designer board games. Your participant card will tell you where and when to show up for your activity. Remember to arrive on time. If participants are to be divided into teams, you will often be asked to meet in a classroom. At the meeting point, registered participants will be welcomed by a person in charge who will divide them into teams for the activity. The way the teams are divided varies. If not all registered participants have shown up, an infonaut will make sure that people from the reserve queue are brought in. Once you have been assigned to a team, you will be shown to your game room, and the activity can begin.
Safety hosts: If you need someone to talk to during Fastaval, you can always contact the safety hosts. They are a group of attentive volunteers who are always ready to talk about anything and everything, should you need it. Read more about the safety hosts here.
