Fastaval

Fastaval is an annual gaming convention in Hobro, Denmark, with focus on role-playing games, live action role-playing games, board games, miniature wargaming and collectible card games. The first many years was held in or around Aarhus but the 2011 Fastaval was held in Silkeborg while the conventions from 2012 to 2016 were held at Mariagerfjord Gymnasiet in Hobro.

The convention has been held on the long weekend of Easter since 1986, with the exception of 1988.

The Otto

Since 1992, Fastaval has presented awards to individuals and role-play scenarios in the form of gilded plaster penguins named Otto. The prizes are awarded at a banquet on the final day of the Fastaval event.

The award inherited its name from a character in the 1989 game called Ulloq Nunaqarfinnguagaluami. The number of Ottos awarded and the categories themselves have been adjusted steadily over the years. The majority of Ottos are awarded for aspects of role-playing scenarios. In 2003 category was introduced for live scenarios which was discontinued in 2006 in favor of keeping both live and tabletop scenarios in competition with each other. Every year, an Honorary Otto is awarded to an individual, group or project who have distinguished themselves by making an extraordinary contribution to Danish roleplaying.

1992 Winners

Best Scenario: Track scares! by Paul Hartvigson
Best Special Effects: A Kresten Love
Best Game Master: Christian Raeder Clausen
Honorary Otto: Mads Lunau

1993 Winners

Best Scenario: Ejnhemmir by Christine Gjørtz Dragsholm (aka Troels Chr. Jakobsen)
Best game people: Ejnhemmir by Christine Gjørtz Dragsholm (aka Troels Chr. Jakobsen)
Best Roles: There were so lovely countryside ... by Anton Silver Stone and Jens Thorup Rasmussen
Best Handouts: Operation of Faust by Ask Agger
Best Presentation: Mask Ballet by Thomas Jakobsen and Jacob Berg
Audience Choice: Indians Tax by Nikolaj Lemche and Peter Petersen
Honorary Otto: Paul Hartvigson

1994 Winners

Best Scenario: Isabelle by Lars Andresen
Best game people: A Study in Malice by Mads Lunau
Best Roles: USS Atlantis by Ask Agger
Best Effects: Locked Doors by Thomas Sorensen Munkholt
Best Roles: Dr. Frank Malling Youth, by School of Role-playing teams
Audience Choice: A Study in Malice by Mads Lunau
Honorary Otto: Troels Chr. Jakobsen

1995 Winners

Best Scenario: Future Ritual by Lars Andresen
Best games persons: Future Ritual by Lars Andresen
Best Roles: Concierto de Aranjuez by Per von Fischer
Best Effects: A Heart of Stone by Anne Winter Ratzer and Soren Maagaard
Best Presentation: Paladins Lamp by Kristoffer Apollo and Christian Savioli
Audience Choice: Midnight Blue by Ask Agger
Honorary Otto: Cool Fish Delivery

1996 Winners

Best Scenario: Dr. Hoffmann's Children by Morten Juul
Best game people: New York Coppers by Palle Schmidt
Best Roles: When A Child Love by Kasper Nørholm
Best Effects: Keeper's Heir by Michael Eric Naesby
Best Illustrations: New York Coppers: The Street Without Mercy by Palle Schmidt
Best Presentation: Inkatemplets Secret by Flemming Sander Jensen and Per von Fischer
Audience Choice: Tertius Oculus by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Honorary Otto: Soren Parbæk

1997 Winners

Best Scenario: The Ark by Alex Uth
Best game people: The Ark by Alex Uth
Best Roles: Peace by Malik Hyltoft
Best Effects: Following Luck Maniacs by Sune Schmidt-Madsen
Best Illustrations: Nibelungentreue by Ask Agger
Best Presentation: Kingdom by Claus Ekstrøm
Audience Choice: The Ark by Alex Uth
Honorary Otto: RPG Magazine Phoenix

1998 Winners

Best Scenario: Shadow Games by Maiken "Catfish" Nielsen and Maria Bergmann
Best games persons: Madame Macbeth by Henrik Vagner
Best Roles: Lydia's Wedding by Jesper Stein Sandal, Daniel BB Clausen and Peter Cornelius Moller
Best Effects: Le Dernier Combat by Thomas Munkholt Sørensen and Lars Andresen
Best Presentation: Le Dernier Combat by Thomas Munkholt Sørensen and Lars Andresen
Audience Choice: Vågenat by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Honorary Otto: Kristoffer Apollo and Mette Finderup

1999 Winners

Best Scenario: Deo Gratias by Frederik Berg Olsen
Best game people: Dogme #4 - Monogamy by Morten Jaeger (anonymously submitted)
Best Roles: The Last Case by Lars Andresen
Best Effects: Dr. Bundwalds Secret by Daniel BB Clausen et al.
Best Presentation: Right at the Bottom by Nicholas Demidoff
Audience Choice: Nevermore by Henrik Vagner
Honorary Otto: Not awarded

2000 Winners

Best Scenario: Messe a Madman by Michael Eric Naesby and David Riis
Best game people: Majgækken by Sanne Harder
Best Roles: The Last Crusade by Ask Agger
Best Effects: Athinopa by Jonas Breum Jensen and Anders Vestergaard
Best Presentation: Hearts by Anders Skovgaard-Petersen and Palle Schmidt
Audience Choice: The King's City by Flemming Lindblad Johansen & Lone Gram Larsen
Jury's Special Prize: Elysium by Mads L. Brynnum
Honorary Otto: Peter Bengtsen

2001 Winners

Best Scenario: Devil on the Wall by Palle Schmidt
Best games persons: Dance by Lars Andresen
Best Roles: Devil on the Wall by Palle Schmidt
Best Effects: Being Max Miller by Max Miller
Best Presentation: 1864 - God, King and Country by Klaus Dhiin and Sean Hoeper
Audience Choice: The Dark Side by Michael EC Sonne
Jury's Special Prize: Bridal Færd by Alex Uth
Honorary Otto: Sara Hald

2002 Winners

Best Scenario: Turing Test by Lars Kroll
Best games persons: Lift by Sebastian Flamant
Best Roles: Bond Men and Beekeepers by Frederik Berg Olsen
Best Effects: Plague or Cholera by Max Miller
Best Presentation: What the Night Brings by Palle Schmidt and Lars Vilhelmsen
Audience Choice: Bond Men and Beekeepers by Frederik Berg Olsen
Honorary Otto: Morten Juul

2003 Winners

Best Scenario: Tell Me by Jorgo A. Larsen and Alex Uth
Best game people: Swan Vang by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Roles: Darling's Death by Mette Finderup
Best Effects: Ruffians by Max Miller, Frederick B. Olsen, Lars Vensild and Anders Skovgaard-Petersen
Best Presentation: Men of Honor by Kristoffer Apollo
Audience Choice: The Dream of a King in Yellow by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Best Live: Meskalin of HC Molbech and Martin W. Jürgensen
Live Audience Award: After-work by Eidolon LVE-Sector
Honorary Otto: Natural Born Holmer

2004 Winners

Best Scenario: Samsara by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Best game people: Samsara by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Best Roles: Air Guitar by Palle Schmidt
Best Effects: A Comedy by author group Absurth
Best Presentation: Samsara by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Audience Choice: Chiaroscuro by Mikkel Bækgaard
Honorary Otto: Peter Brodersen

2005 Winners

Best Scenario: The Secret Society by Lars Andresen
Best Storytelling: A Day in the Life by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Tools: Super Heroes ™ by Kristoffer Apollo and Sebastian Flamant
MVP material: The Divided Kingdom by Tobias Demediuk tether
Best Dissemination: Super Heroes ™ by Kristoffer Apollo and Sebastian Flamant
Jury's Special Prize: Unique by Klaus Meier Olsen
Audience Choice: A Day in the Life by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Live Scenario: Persona Maya Krone and Ryan Rohde Hansen
Live Audience Award: Surrounded by Mårten Krammer and Christian Møller Christensen
Honorary Otto: Merlin P. Mann

2006 Winners

Best Scenario: High Under the Sun by Jacob Schmidt-Madsen
Best Storytelling: Guernica by Klaus Meier Olsen
Best Tools: The Regicide by Mikkel Bækgaard
MVP material: Ulfheðnar by Alex Uth
Best Dissemination: The Red Plague by Lars Andresen
Jury's Special Price: Tupelo by Brian Rasmussen
Audience Choice: Nantonaku Manga of Malik Hyltoft
Honorary Otto Malik Hyltoft

2007 Winners

Best Scenario: Superheroes 3 by Kristoffer Apollo & Sebastian Flamant
Best Storytelling: Doubt by Frederick Axelzon & Tobias Wrigstad
Best Tools: A Bloody History by Jorgo A. Larsen, Anna Lawaetz & Jacob Pondsgård
Best Roles: Sparta by Morten Hougaard & Kristoffer Kjær Jensen
Best Dissemination: Superheroes 3 by Kristoffer Apollo & Sebastian Flamant
Jury's Special Prize: Doubt by Frederick Axelzon & Tobias Wrigstad
Audience Choice: Memoratoriet: The Nice Place by Morten Greis Petersen & Monica deer Traxl
Honorary Otto: The National Association for Live Roleplay

2008 Winners

Best Scenario: Before Harvest by Klaus Meier Olsen & Jonas Trier-Knudsen
Best Storytelling: Monsters by Simon Steen Hansen
Best Tools: Technical Accident by Fredrik Axelzon Per Wetterstrand & Tobias Wrigstad
Best Roles: Felicia Tale of Sanne Harder Flamant
Best Dissemination: Loegstoer by Mikkel Bækgaard
Jury's Special Prize: Loegstoer by Mikkel Bækgaard
Audience Choice: Felicia Tale by Sanne Harder Flamant
Honorary Otto: Brian Rasmussen

2009 Winners

Best Scenario: Reservoir Elves by Kristian Bach Petersen
Best Storytelling: Torture by Troels Ken Pedersen
Best Tools: Compete by Kristoffer Rudkjær, Anders Frost Bertelsen and Morten Hougaard
Best Roles: No Home. Thousand Stars by Regitze Illum
Best Dissemination: Creative Class by Klaus Meier Olsen
Jury's Special: Empire compiled by Johannes Busted Larsen and Lars Andresen
Audience Choice: Under My Skin by Emily Care Boss
Honorary Otto: Jesper Wøldiche

2010 Winners

Best Scenario: The Vase by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Storytelling: The Vase by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Tools: Heart Fire by Frikard Ellemand
Best Roles: Salvation by Simon Steen Hansen
Best Dissemination: Slave Dealer from Ascalon by Johannes Busted Larsen
Jury's Special: Magic Finally by Louise Floor Frellsen
Audience Choice: The Journey by Fredrik Axelzon
Honorary Otto: We Go By Jeep

2011 Winners

Best Scenario: BZ'at by Frikard Ellemand
Best Storytelling: Scrapbook by Eva Fog
Best Tools: Fifteen Man by Simon Steen Hansen, Niels Jensen and Anders Troelsen
Best Roles: BZ'at by Frikard Ellemand
Best Dissemination: Fifteen Man by Simon Steen Hansen, Niels Jensen and Anders Troelsen
Jury's Special Prize: Children from v. 7 by Sally Khallash & Morten Greis Petersen
Audience Choice: Nazi Satan Church of War 2: Unholy Raptor Edition by Benjamin Jorgensen, Milton Felice Brambati Lund & Anders Bo Forest
Honorary Otto: Lars Andresen

2012 Winners

Best Scenario: Track by Alex K. Uth
Best Storytelling: Let the World Burn by Peter Fallesen
Best Tools: The World's End, by Nina Runa Essendrop
Best Roles: Tiny Liverpool, by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Dissemination: Relapse, by Max Miller
Jury's Special Prize: Dancing with the Clans, The Violator, Lady and Raven by Fyn
Audience Choice: Dancing with the Clans, The Violator, Lady and Raven by Fyn
Best Boardgame: Siege Perilous by Martin Cooper Enghoff
Honorary Otto: Klaus Meier Olsen & Kristoffer Rudkjær

2013 Winners

Best Scenario: Plexiglass by Morten Jaeger
Best Storytelling: The Last Adventure by Max Miller
Best Tools: Violation Circus by Danny Meyer Wilson
Best Roles: Suldrup by Mikkel Bækgaard
Best Dissemination: Thorvald Stauning - Varulvejæger by Kristian Bach Petersen
Jury's Special Prize: Depereo by Asbjørn Olsen
Best Games Experience: Sarabande by Maria & Jeppe Bergmann-Hamming
Best Boardgame: Stock Bubbles Jeppe Norsker
Honorary Otto: Jesper Heebøll Arbjørn

2014 Winners

Best Scenario: Outlaw by Anders Frost Bertelsen & Simon Steen Hansen
Best Storytelling: The Man with the Pram by Alex K. Uth
Best Tools: Curse Youth Lars Andresen & Mette Finderup
Best Roles: Outlaw by Anders Frost Bertelsen & Simon Steen Hansen
Best Presentation: All for One (and Metal for Me) by Klaus Meier Olsen
Jury's Special Prize: Run Them Again by Moyra Turkington & Brand Robins
Best Games Experience: Mass Effect: 2157 by Niels Jensen, Thomas Skuldbøl & Anders Troelsen
Best Boardgame: Honour Among Thieves by Martin Cooper Enghoff
Honorary Otto: DirtBusters

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: Lizzie Stark (Leaving Mundania)
2013: D. Vincent Baker (Dogs in the Vineyard)
2014: Mark Rein·Hagen (Vampire: The Masquerade)

External links

Fastaval homepage (in Danish and English)