General | Refunds | Transfers | Conduct | Costume | No Shipping | Photo Release | Health

The primary mission of the NOVA Open is for attendees to have fun. To ensure that this happens, the NOVA Open has enacted a set of policies that govern conduct at the NOVA Open and interactions with the NOVA Open, its staff, sponsors, affiliates, and all attendees of the NOVA Open. The policies in this document are designed to ensure smooth and fair operation of the convention making it the best possible experience for all attendees. While all are welcome, the NOVA Open reserves the right to deny or revoke attendance of any individual, at any time, for any reason without refund.

Anyone who accepts a NOVA Open access pass agrees to indemnify and hold harmless NOVA Open LLC from any claim for personal injuries or other damages or equity arising out of any individual’s activities at the NOVA Open.  Further, NOVA Open reserves the right to alter, change or modify these policies without publication or notice. 

You may request a refund for of any previously purchased badge or event ticket through midnight July 15, 2024. To do so, please see the Tabletop.Events documentation. Refunds will be issued to the original payment method.

Due to production and ordering deadlines, the refund deadline for physical products will be midnight June 1, 2024.

All refunds are subject to a 5% administrative fee. Please note that all original transaction and service charges are non-refundable.

There will be no refunds in Tabletop.Events or on-site after July 15, 2024. Nova Open cannot be responsible for travel, attendance or event issues caused by Acts of God including, but not limited to, war, illness, strike, act of terrorism, severe weather, pandemics, or natural disasters.
The ONLY exceptions to this policy are:

1. If the convention is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances

2. If a specific event is canceled after the July 15th refund deadline by the convention, the event lead, or the instructor

3. If you have a mistake or error with your purchase and promptly notify NOVA Open within 48 hours of purchase.

At the sole discretion of the NOVA Open, in these cases refunds may be issued subject to a 5% processing fee. Refunds may take up to 90 days to process.

TTE now supports switching events without having to refund and re-buy. Instead, visit your Tabletop.events cart and click the “Convert” button to change one ticket to another. You will only be charged or refunded the difference in cost of that item. However please note, the website only supports 1-for-1 swaps. For more details please see the TTE documentation Refund or Convert Convention Badge / Ticket / Merch Purchase.

If you are seeking to change events after the refund deadline, please email customerservice@novaopen.com and we will do our best to assist.

Transferring badges and tickets. Attendees can purchase badges and events for friends and can transfer to other attendees. Please see the Transferring Badge(s) Between Friends documentation. If you experience difficulties executing a transfer, please contact customerservice@novaopen.com and we will do our best to assist, but cannot guarantee a change in all cases.

Respect. The NOVA Open prides itself on an inclusive, comfortable atmosphere for attendees of all ages and lifestyles; as such, NOVA Open attendees are expected to act accordingly. Attendees are expected to treat other attendees and staff with respect and courtesy and to respect the property of others. If an attendee feels unsafe or has issues or concerns, they should reach out to any NOVA Open staff member who will be happy to assist.

Personal Property. Each attendee is solely responsible for his/her own personal property. Please be respectful of the property of others. If an attendee comes across lost or abandoned property, we ask that they turn it into to any NOVA Open staff member or hotel personnel.

Keep it PG-13 and keep it safe. NOVA Open is family-friendly event committed to the health and safety of its attendees. Costumes must be designed with health and safety and public decency in mind. Costumes should not be sharp, cause tripping hazards, exceed the width of a standard doorway or a height of 10’, or otherwise impinge on the experience of other attendees.

Safe prop weapons only. At the discretion of NOVA Open staff, fantasy or sci-fi/futuristic prop weapons are allowed, so long as the prop weapons are handled with respect for the safety and personal space of other attendees. All prop weapons must be checked by NOVA Open staff upon arrival and must follow the following rules:

• All prop weapons must be made of soft materials. Props made of wood, metal, or glass are not allowed. Prop weapons may be made plastic or resin.

• Realistic firearms are strictly prohibited. If the firearm could be confused for a real firearm, it is not allowed at the convention, even if the firearm is marked with a brightly-colored cap.

• Functional firearms are prohibited, including paintball, airsoft, bb guns, cap guns, any prop that shoots a real projectile or causes a real explosion.

• Any bow-type weapons must be unstrung or strung with a low-tensile thread. All prop arrows must have soft, non-metal, blunted tips made out of foam or cardboard only.

• Whips are not allowed.

No real uniforms. Costumes must not be comprised, in whole or in part, of any real (or realistic) uniform, insignia, or equipment of any military unit in existence after 1900. This especially applies to camouflage clothing, helmets, etc. Costumes that indicate allegiance or affiliation with any real political or military movement are strictly forbidden. Official law enforcement, emergency services, or military personnel uniforms are not permitted as costumes, nor shall anyone impersonate or attempt to impersonate such individuals.

Right to request removal. Attendees must alter or remove any unacceptable costume and/or accessories when requested to do so by NOVA Open staff.

When in doubt, please contact NOVA Open customer service at customerservice@novaopen.com.

All purchases of physical merchandise (including passes that come with physical items) and all prizes, awards, and medals must be picked up at the convention. If you are unable to pick up your item, please email customerservice@novaopen.com or contact your event lead or another NOVA Open staff member about having someone else pick up your item(s) in your place.

All attendees of the NOVA Open by virtue of purchasing or redeeming a badge consent to be photographed and recorded by authorized NOVA Open staff members. NOVA Open retains exclusive copyright of any photographs or recordings. Attendees hereby grant NOVA Open permission to use such images and recordings for archival or promotional purposes.

Providing a safe environment for all our attendees, staff, and vendors is a top priority for the NOVA Open. The NOVA Open will follow the requirements of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and local health authorities regarding public safety.

Everyone participating in the 2024 NOVA Open will be required to agree to abide by any safety requirements adopted for the convention as a condition of participation.

Please contact customerservice@novaopen.com with any questions about any NOVA Open policies.