Fastaval

Fastaval is an annual gaming convention in Aarhus Denmark with newly written/designed tabletop roleplay games, freeform games and larps. There is also a large selection of board games, miniature wargaming and collectible card games. It's been held every year since 1986 except 1988.

Every extended Easter weekend 400-700 people of all ages gather to play all kinds of games and meet old friends. Since the first Fastaval in 1986, Fastaval has established itself as one of the most important cons for role-playing in Denmark, Scandinavia, even the world. It is a creative melting-pot for new ideas for games of any kind, as well as the place to enjoy more traditional gaming experiences.

Fastaval is famous for the Otto Award that is handed out in several categories to the best of the more than 30 scenarios that each year are created for Fastaval.

In addition to role-playing games, boardgames, card games and workshops, there is also a nice cafe with espresso and special beers, a bar, an alcohol-free youth lounge, and much more.

Brief History

Fastaval is a non-profit event exclusively run by volunteers and any leftover money goes into making the next year’s event even better for the participants. Behind the event is the Aarhus-based role-playing association ALEA, which was founded to run and develop the event. In the beginning Fastaval was organized by the local roleplaying association, Fasta. But since 2004 it has been run by Alea.

Fastaval Freeform

Because of Fastaval's size the scenarios started being written down so that the same scenarios could be played by multiple groups at the same time. By writing down the scenarios other game designers could easily learn from previous Fastaval games and with the help of a prize for the best written scenarios (the Otto) the Fastaval scenarios developed into a genre of roleplaying games in it's own right.

What is Fastaval Freeform?

The Fastaval freeform scenarios are written-down roleplaying scenarios for around 4-6 players. Most often the scenarios have a Game Master (Danish: Spilleder), but that is not the case for all. The scenarios typically lasts 2-6 hours to play. The scenarios are designed to be played in a single room (on Fastaval it is most often a class room in a Danish public school) without costumes for the players and most often no other props than text on paper or the chairs and tables in the class room. The scenarios are stand alone games where no other information or rules are needed than the game itself. Some knowledge of the Fastaval tradition is though probably needed for most games because some playing style knowledge is mostly assumed.

A typical Fastaval scenario has:

• Instructions for the Game master
• Character descriptions

Fastaval Freeform games are closely related to the Jeepform games and several Jeepform games has premiered on Fastaval.

List of Fastavals

Year	Theme	Location
Fastaval 1986	-	Sankt Anna Gade Skole, Århus
Fastaval 1987	-	Fronthuset, Århus
Fastaval 1989	-	Brobjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1990	-	Brobjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1991	-	Brobjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1992	-	Brobjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1993	-	Ellekærskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1994	Spil på hjernen	Skjoldhøjskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1995	the Victoria time	Tilst Skole og Langkjær Gymnasium, Århus
Fastaval 1996	Movies	Skjoldhøjskolen og Tilst Skole, Århus
Fastaval 1997	Paranormal	Skjoldhøjskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1998	Heaven and Hell	Søndervangskolen, Århus
Fastaval 1999	Altantis	Søndervangskolen, Århus
Fastaval 2000	Noir	Lystrup Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2001	2001 nights	Skovvangskolen og Katrinebjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 2002	Science Fiction	Skovvangskolen og Katrinebjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 2003	The Roleplayer and Society	Skovvangskolen og Katrinebjergskolen, Århus
Fastaval 2004	The dungeon version	Tilst Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2005	Do-it-yourself	Jellebakkeskolen, Århus
Fastaval 2006	Super heroes	Tranbjerg Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2007	007	Tranbjerg Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2008	Once upon a time	Tranbjerg Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2009	- no theme -	Skæring Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2010	- no theme -	Skæring Skole, Århus
Fastaval 2011	Evolution	Silkeborg Seminarium og Langsøskolen, Silkeborg
Fastaval 2012	Otto is watching you	Mariagerfjord Gymnasium and VUC, Hobro

Otto

Since 1992 awards have been given to individuals and scenarios in the form of gilded plaster penguins named Otto. The prizes are awarded on Sunday at the banquet which closes Fastaval. In 2012 ottos were given to the following: Best Scenario, Best Story, Best Effects, Best Characters, Best Presentation, Best Boardgame, Audience Award and Special Jury Award. An Honorary award 'is given to a person, an organisation or group of persons, who has made an extraordinary contribution to Danish roleplaying'.

Guests of Honor

The convention has over time included a couple of international well-known roleplaying designers:

• 1994: Mark Rein·Hagen (Vampire: The Masquerade)
• 1995: Michael Pondsmith (Castle Falkenstein)
• 1996: David Berkman (Theatrix) plus Gunilla Johnsson and Michael Petersén (Kult)
• 1997: Keith Herber - furthermore, David Berkman attended as a regular visitor
• 2000: Steve Jackson (Steve Jackson Games)
• 2005: Greg Costikyan (Paranoia, Toon)
• 2009: Emily Care Boss (Black & Green Games)
• 2010: Julia Ellingboe (Stone Baby Games)
• 2011: Luke Crane and Jared Sorensen
• 2012: American journalist Lizzie Stark

External Links

• Fastaval website
• Fastaval on Alexandria.dk
• Article about the Danish Fastaval scenario tradtion

Other links:

• Vi åker jeep — the home of Jeepform