Wait till you see the jam-packed schedule of events!
DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN EVERY EVENT?
Nope! Just join in the events and scenarios that sound like fun to you!
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO DO BESIDES FIGHTING?
With hundreds of Dagorhir members camping out for the week, there are lots of opportunities to socialize with new and old friends. You'll often find yourself becoming fast friends with the fighter who tried to skewer you with a spear that day. After the fighting is over, many people love to visit other camps or to host people in their camp, sharing a beverage and retelling war stories that get more grand and heroic each time they are retold. There are also a number of merchants at Ragnarok, so take the time to wander through the merchant areas and at least window shop. There is a wide variety of items available, from garb and armor, to weapons (real and padded) and many other useful things for Dagorhir or camping. Another fun idea is to go for a dip in the swimming hole, or just sunning by the lake. So bring your swimsuit, and on a hot sweaty day you'll be glad that you did.
In the evening, when the sun goes down, Ragnarok becomes a magical place, lit by the light of torches, candles and campfires. Dagorhirrim in costume wander from camp to camp, meeting friends, telling tales and reveling in the freedom of Ragnarok. Often as dusk falls, the sound of drums and the jingling of gypsy bells are heard as the warriors and wenches, nobles, gypsies, knights, and knaves of Dagorhir come together by the bonfire to celebrate another glorious day. On several nights, there will be light refreshments and snacks for the revelers to enjoy.
WHAT DO I NEED TO CHECK INTO TROLL?
- You will need ID with your photo, name, and date of birth. Such as a driver's license, State ID, or passport.
- You will also need Sufficient Cash If you pay on-site we will only accept Cash or Money Orders. NO personal Checks. If you pre-register you may pay by debit, Visa, Discover, Mastercard or American Express
- Guardianship paper If you arrive with a minor you will need proof of full legal guardianship for that minor.
- This can be a copy of their birth certificate (Please copies only. We don't want anything happening to the original )
- A copy of full legal guardianship papers SIGNED BY THE JUDGE who appointed the guardianship
- If you Pre-registered a copy of the receipt.
NO, only a parent or full legal guardian may accompany a minor to Ragnarok.
I'M 17, CAN I HAVE MY PARENTS TRANSFER LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP TO SOMEONE ELSE FOR ONE WEEK?
No, Cooper's Lake requires FULL legal guardianship. No Temporary guardianships will be allowed.
I'M 16, CAN MY PARENTS DROP ME OFF AT RAGNAROK, SIGN ALL THE FORMS, AND COME BACK LATER IN THE WEEK?
No, A parent or court appointed guardian must be on site at Ragnarok for as long as the minor is at Cooper's Lake. So if the parents / guardian run out to McDonalds they must take the minors with them. No minors are to be left unattended while at Ragnarok.
I PRE-REGISTERED BUT CAN'T GO, HOW DO I GET MY MONEY BACK?
If you pre-registered for Ragnarok and are unable to attend please contact Vanisia, Head of Troll, at vanisia@dagorhir.com for a full refund before June 10th, 2010. After that point Ragnarok Staff will assume you are attending the event and a refund may not be possible.
CAN I TRANSFER MY PRE-REGISTRATION TO SOMEONE ELSE?
No, we cannot transfer registration to another individual.
I WANT MY FAVORITE NUMBER ON MY RAG TAG. CAN I REQUEST IT OR SWITCH WITH SOMEONE ELSE?
No. We have too many people coming into the event to hold specific rag tags for particular people. You must keep the number assigned to you. This is a means of finding your identification. God forbids if something were to happen to you, we can use your rag tag (which should be on you at all times) to look up your waver. SWITCHING RAG TAGS IS GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL FROM RAGNAROK.
CAN I ARRIVE EARLY?
No, at least not without significant cost.
Ragnarok XXV starts Sunday, June 13, 2010. Troll will Open at 8am. If you show up early you will be charged an additional fee, beside the Ragnarok camping fee. Saturday June 12, 2010 camping prices START at 30$ and may increase from there. No one will be permitted entry onto the site before noon on Saturday June 12th. Anyone arriving after 8pm on Saturday, June 12th will be asked to return the next morning when troll opens at 8am. Please remember the event staff needs Saturday to set up, by coming early you are making it more difficult for the Ragnarok staff.
HOW WILL CAMPSITES BE AWARDED?
Since we are moving to a new site land grab will be run in a completely different fashion then in past years. Some camps have already been assigned locations due to the fact that their camps are volunteers or the size of their encampment. Camp masters should contact Vanisia, head of Troll, (vanisia@dagorhir.com) to register as a camp master and receive more information on how to pick a piece of land for land grab. Camps failing to do so may find that they are last on the pick for land grab. Camp masters please remember to choose your land wisely this year. You will be setting a precedent for where your camp will be in future years.
Don't worry -- there's lots of room at Coopers Lake, and room to expand if need be.
ARE THERE ANY PLACES WE CAN'T CAMP?
Yes: the Battlefield, the parking area, and private property and any area deemed off limits by event staff. But don't worry. There are lots of natural boundaries to make it quite clear where Rag has access to. Please check in with the folks at Troll Booth to check on campsite availability.
WHAT IS A CAMP MASTER?
ALL campsites must have a designated camp Master or Mistress. We will have several new improvements that contact with the camp master/mistress will be needed prior to Rag. Duties of Camp Master/ Mistress:
I WOULD LIKE TO RENT A TENT FOR THE WEEK. WHAT DO I DO?
You must notify Vanisia, Head of Troll at vanisia@dagorhir.com and Will Scarlit, Head of Land Grab at willscarlit@dagorhir.com Prior to Ragnarok. You must include your:
I HAVE HEARD THAT PERIOD VESSELS ARE REQUIRED THIS YEAR?
This year we would like all drinks to be in period vessels while traveling from camp to camp. This will help to cut down on the amount of debris and clean up on the field as well as broken glass. The exception to this is if you are staying in your own camp you may leave the beverages in the original containers. It also does not apply to drinks taken to the battle field to consume during battle such as Water or sports drinks. Please remember to pick up your trash when finished
WHAT ARE THE CAMPGROUND RULES?
Don't be an idiot.
Okay, that isn't really written on the campground rules, but it should be. Respect Cooper Lake Campground and don't do stupid things. If you behave in a stupid manner, you will be asked to leave Ragnarok -- and that would suck. Examples of stupid things people have done in the past require us to point out the following 'common sense' rules.
- If you get covered in mud during Mongolian Wrestling or any other activity, clean off by jumping in the swimming hole -- DON'T trash the shower-house and clog the drains with mud.
- DRIVE SLOWLY ON COOPER'S LAKE PROPERTY. Dagorhir is renting the entire large campground, but there are "regular folk" who live at the front of the campground. When you arrive onsite, drive at a snail's pace -- 10 MPH. The fighting will wait until you park.
- No pools/tubs in camp. At Ragnarok XVI, someone brought a sizable above-ground pool and filled it...draining the wells and leaving Dagorhir without water for most of a day.
Please note that you will be asked to leave immediately if security witnesses you involved in any of the following:
- Brawling, or any kind of non-consensual, non-friendly fighting regardless of who the instigator is
- Serving alcohol to an underaged individual
- Use of illegal substances
- Public nudity [not exactly illegal, but a lot of people at the event don't want to deal with it]
- Willful use of equipment during officially sanctioned fighting that has not passed safety inspection
- Non-consensual vandalism, theft, or destruction of property
HOW IS PARKING HANDLED?
After vehicles are unloaded, they are to be moved to the dedicated parking area. We are allowing a 30min drop off time limit for cars entering the camping area. Troll will be handing out tags with the date and time on them to be displayed in the driver side car window. Cars staying longer then the time stamped will be subject to towing No cars will be permitted in camp.
WHAT'S IN THE NEARBY TOWN?
The towns of Newcastle and Butler both are on Rt 422, about 20 minutes from the campground. Immediately outside the campground is a gas station and a McDonalds.
WHERE DO I GET ICE, DRINKING WATER, FIREWOOD, AND FOOD Firewood, Ice and, Drinking water can be purchased at the camp store, or at an off-site location. Do not cut the campsite's foliage for firewood. Under no circumstances may garbage, refuse, hay, or straw be burned
HERALDS & WEAPONS-CHECKERS
Every Dagorhir Chapter is required to provide veteran heralds according to the following scale, based on the number of participants attending Ragnarok:
0-4 Participants from the Chapter -- no Heralds/Weapons Checkers required
5-20 Participants -- At least One Herald and One Weapons-check staff person each day
Each Additional Increment of 20 participants (21-40, 41-60, etc.) -- At least One additional Herald and One additional Weapons check person.
Ragnarok is a big event. To ensure its success, we must all pitch in.
WEAPONS, ARMOR, AND COSTUME CHECK
COSTUMES will be spot-checked for adherence to minimum Dagorhir requirements by Heralds. If your costume doesn't meet the minimum standards, you will be directed to modify it or leave the battlefield.
-- SUGGESTION: Mark all your weapons with your name, Unit, and Chapter, to ensure you always get them back from Weapons Check or if you drop them on the field.
WHAT IF MY WEAPONS DON'T PASS SAFETY CHECK THE FIRST TIME?
If your weapon fails safety check, the Weapons Checkers will tell you why it failed and give you advice on how to fix it. Bring foam and tape with you to weapons check for on-the-spot repairs.
If you feel your weapon has been failed unfairly, you may appeal to the Head Weapons Checker for a final decision.
HOW ARE TEAMS CHOSEN?
New teams and commanders will be chosen each day. Sometimes, new teams will be chosen several times in a single day as scenarios require.
As fighters arrive on the Battlefield, the Heralds will write down the names of each Chapter or Unit, and the number of fighters they brought to the battle. Heralds will then do their best to split the field into fair teams.
For some scenarios, especially during Dagor Dagorath on Saturday, the Heralds may choose teams based on arbitrary criteria, such as "all Chapters older than 10 years on this side," or "all Chapters East of the Mississippi vs. all West of the Mississippi."
WILL THERE BE PRIZES FOR THE TOURNAMENTS?
YES!
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS
Dagorhir always needs help marking weapons and running errands. If you'd like to help out, speak up to the Heralds, Troll, Security or Weapons Check staff!
WHAT ABOUT TOILETS?
There are flush toilets at the Bath House, and "portajohns" throughout the camping and battle areas
If a porta-john runs out of toilet paper, see the Troll Cabin - we carry spare supplies there.
WHAT COULD GET SOMEONE KICKED OUT OF RAGNAROK?
ARE CAMP BOUNDRIES REQUIRED?
Yes, We are asking that there are visible boundaries (sheet walls, rope walls, etc) around each campsite. This will prevent people from cutting across your camp uninvited.
I HAVE FRIENDS WHO FIGHT IN SIMILAR NON-DAGORHIR ORGANIZATIONS. CAN THEY COME TO RAGNAROK?
ABSOLUTELY! All groups are welcome at Ragnarok. Make sure your friends understand the Dagorhir RULES. Some non-Dagorhir groups attend Ragnarok for the chance to have their whole group fight TOGETHER as one team! When you're used to fighting against people regularly, you know exactly how they fight -- and that makes them a very strong ally when you have the chance to all fight together!
CAN I BRING MY DOG TO RAGNAROK?
No. Pets are not permitted by Coopers Lake. The only exception to this are certified trained helper animals. All helper animals must be registered with Troll. Proper paper work for a certified helper animal must also be presented at Troll.
I SEE THAT WEAPONS CHECK IS ON THE SCHEDULE EVERY DAY, DO I NEED TO HAVE MY WEAPONS CHECKED EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT I FIGHT?
Yes and no. All missile weapons must be checked every day, but hand held weapons and equipment like swords, shields and spears need to go through weapons check every second day. So if your sword is checked on Monday, you need to have it rechecked on Wednesday and Friday. All weapons will be rechecked on Saturday before the big battles at the end of the world. Of course, every participant in Dagorhir is expected to check their own equipment before each battle, as you are responsible for your equipment regardless of who checked it and when. Checking them yourself also gives you a chance to catch problems and fix them before they go to weapons check.
WHAT IS RAGNAROK WEAPONS CHECK LIKE? IS IT DIFFERENT AT RAGNAROK FROM HOW IT WORKS AT MY LOCAL CHAPTER?
In essence, it is the same as at your local event, just on a bigger scale. Every day at Ragnarok hundreds and hundreds of weapons are checked by a team of experienced Dagorhir weapons checkers. The first step is that your weapons and equipment will be measured for compliance with the rules, for example blade and pommel length, tip size, flail chain length, weight, etc. The foam will be hand tested for overall safety. The weapon will then be hit tested: the checkers will hit each other with every weapon that seems safe, and the foam on shields will be tested for safety too. Then if it passes, it gets marked with a sticker or symbol for that day's check. The passed weapons are then tossed into a pile with other weapons that pass. Weapons that fail at any stage of this process, measuring, foam check and hit testing, will have all marking tape and stickers removed and will be tossed into a FAIL pile.
WHAT IF MY FAVORITE WEAPON/SHIELD FAILS?
You should pull your weapon out of the FAIL pile and first look it over to see if you know why it failed: exposed core, ripped weapon cover, foam loose on the core, foam breaking down in spots, loose pommel, low weight, etc. You can then ask the weapons checkers why your weapon failed. While they are extremely busy most mornings, you'll often be able to talk to the person who failed your weapon and they can tell you exactly why it failed. Sometimes it is something simple to repair, like a ripped cover or a spot where the foam is breaking down. In that case, if you have time, you can repair the weapon quickly and have it rechecked (if weapons check is still open by the time you are done). The best thing to do is to check it yourself first and do any repairs BEFORE bringing it to weapons check in the first place. If the weapon cannot be repaired or you don't have the right foam, glue or tools, ask your friends for help or if they have a weapon to loan.
The important thing to remember is that every weapon must be officially passed by weapons check before it may be used at Ragnarok. If your weapon fails and cannot be passed before Weapons Check closes, then you cannot use that weapon or shield that day, period. Anyone who is found to be using unchecked or failed weapons is subject to being expelled from the event. Weapons check is a primary safety procedure for Dagorhir, so violating or evading these rules is a very serious violation of the rules of Dagorhir and of Ragnarok. So if you cannot get your weapon or shield passed in time, you will need to make arrangements to borrow a passed weapon from someone.
THIS IS MY FIRST DAGORHIR EVENT OTHER THAN LOCAL PRACTICES, WHAT CAN I EXPECT?
Take a look at the Ragnarok Schedule for all of the fun events that are scheduled. A typical day involves getting up and putting on garb, then heading over to weapons check if needed (see above). When you and your friends are ready, grab your passed weapons and form up on the battlefield. Before the announced battles start, there are often fighters willing to spar. As the time to fight approaches, the Heralds will call the armies to form up on the field. Any special rules for a particular battle will then be explained, whether it is the Battle of Five Armies (see the Schedule for details) or a unit battle. Once the rules are explained, the fighters will again be called on to prepare for battle, and then "LAY ON" will be called out, and the fighting begins. Like local events, things sometimes start slowly and other times happen quickly, but with hundreds of fighters the battle will rage on, with action in every direction and comedy and heroism in large measures. Every Dagorhirrim loves the glories of fighting on the battlefield at Ragnarok with hundreds of fighters. There is nothing that compares with seeing a wall of warriors advancing towards your line, or being in that wall and charging the foe.
If this is your first really big battle, the best advice I can give is to keep your eyes open and stay close to your friends. Things happen quickly in battle, and where your ally was a second ago can be a charging barbarian a second later. So look around, pay attention and be ready to move, fight or die in an instant.
THE RULES SAY THAT I MUST BE SIXTEEN TO FIGHT, BUT I AM FIFTEEN, CAN I COME TO RAGNAROK? If SO, CAN I FIGHT?
People of all ages attend Ragnarok, from little babies to grandparents. So yes, fifteen year olds are welcome to attend the event, but they must have their parent or full legal guardian at Ragnarok. While you can attend Ragnarok, you are not allowed to fight in any Battles or Tournaments at Ragnarok, including the Assassin or Highlander Tournaments.
While this may seem unfair, Dagorhir fighting is a full contact sport, so this rule was enacted for safety reasons. But even without fighting in organized events, Ragnarok can be a lot of fun. There are lots of people to meet and things to learn and do. There are merchants to purchase neat stuff from and if you see something neat, just ask the owner about it and I'll bet that they'd love to tell you about it and how it was made.
DO WE HAVE TO CAMP TO ATTEND RAGNAROK? IF WE DON'T CAMP, DO WE STILL HAVE TO PAY? ARE THERE CABINS WE CAN RENT?
It is not necessary to stay on site, and there are many nice motels nearby, but whether you camp or stay in a motel, every person who attends the event must pay at Troll upon their arrival. The Fee is a sliding scale based on when you arrive. See the Registration page for more details. There are no rental cabins, but the large number of local motels should take care of those who don't want to camp out.
MY FRIEND WANTS TO COME AND WATCH US FOR THE DAY AS A GUEST. CAN HE COME IN WITHOUT GARB AND WATCH?
There are no guest passes for one day. He will be required to pay all standard Ragnarok fees.
ALCOHOL & TOBACCO
The use of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages is permitted at Cooper's Lake Campground. Tobacco products may not be smoked inside communal buildings (such as the shower houses or barn) and must be disposed of safely. All local, state, and federal laws regarding alcohol and tobacco must be respected and intoxication will not excuse disorderly behavior. Failure to comply with these rules may result in dismissal from the event.
See you at Ragnarok XXV !!!
