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It's my pleasure to introduce the new Venture Captain of Denmark, David Post Møller.
He's one of the volunteers that continued my work, when I stepped down as VC last summer. He has been doing a lot of my work already and finally took up the badge.
David and I go way back - we organised a monthly LARP campaign for a few years ten years ago.
Between then and now I did tabletop RPGs and he volunteered at LARPs and theater. We met again two years ago over PFS.
When I stepped down, he even started collecting money for a nice gift for me.
Now he's taking my old job and I look forward to seeing the campaign grow.
Please welcome him!
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Welcome, David!!! I hope that all goes well for you in your new position.
Can you and Erik share some information and thoughts about PFS in Denmark?
I can try telling you a bit about the general state of roleplaying games in Denmark, William. In a few months, when he has been in some video conferences with his European colleagues, David will know more about how PFS in Denmark compares to the rest of the world than I know now after three years of service.
Our first Venture-Captain, Diego, wrote this blog post about the early years of PFS in Denmark: Tidings from the Viking Lodge. That's a good start dealing with the origins of PFS in Denmark.
Roleplaing games are a common hobby in Denmark, especially LARP. We have regular monthly fantasy campaigns, large LARPs spanning a week with 3-500 attendants called summer scenarios and a lot of specialty scenarios.
Many adults play LARP and a lot of specialty scenarios are for adults only. These scenarios often require a detailed costume and the organisers put a lot of efford and detail into the setting.
Have a look at Krigslive (War LARP) played in the Warhammer world by going to their forums and clicking links called "Billeder" - pictures. Or the newest sensation, College of Wizardry, inspired by the Harry Potter world
Tabletop RPGs doesn't get as much media attention, but is an old and solid hobby. Our largest conventions, Viking-Con and Fastaval are over 30 years old.
At home we play the same games as the rest of the world: Pathfinder, D&D, World of Darkness and the other big american games. Danish games are rare - with less than 6 million inhabitants and a well functioning public school teaching English from 3rd grade it is not worth the efford to translate any foreign games.
Every 5-10 years a new Danish RPG is published, but it's been more than a decade since I've seen one staying in publication after their first books.
Pathfinder Society is the first living campaing to gain a footing in Denmark. Recently a Danish old school and rules light campaign called Hinterlandet has emerged. They only play at conventions and have a solid following, but not much of an overlap with PFS. I haven't had the opportunity to play it yet.
At conventions danes generally play more freeform, rules light and story focused games. These games are writen by volunteers have pre-generated characters and generally focus on a story or character development. This style is very common in Scandinavia. (The only link I could find about the style is from a Norwegian blog in English. Have a look at Nørwegian Style.)
PFS stands out on these conventions, but when we atend, people generally like the concept and we always get new followers. I have met a bit of prejudice when working with con organisers thinking an american commercial products doesn't have a place at their conventions, but we either slip by or just concentrate on other cons.
Everything cultural- sports- and hobby-related in Denmark is organised in associations. They are easy to form, can operate like a business and enjoy certain privileges from local authorities: They get monetary support if the target audience is youths below 25 years and rooms are provided for the hobby if asked for. Most often associations get to use schools, sports halls or other publically owned locations free of charge.
When I was VC I often ran into problems finding free or cheap locations because we weren't an association. when I stepped down last year, we founded an association to have a constant when officers changed. The association now owns some props and gear usefull for organising events and can support volunteers making our conventions.
