Getting Started
Welcome to Draftastic! Creating your first draft is a simple 4-step process. This guide walks you through setting up a complete draft from start to finish.
Step 1: Draft Basics
Start by defining the core details of your draft:
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Draft Name: Give your draft a clear, descriptive name (e.g., “Fantasy Football League 2025”)
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Draft Type: Choose how teams will be formed:
- Standard Draft: Choose between manual assignment or auto-pick for flexible control
- Captain’s Pick: Team captains take turns selecting participants with optional timers
Learn more about draft types and their differences.
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Timing (Optional): Set a planned start time and/or last entry deadline to control when participants can join
Pro Tip: You can always change these settings later before the draft starts.
Step 2: Team Configuration
Set up your team structure and naming preferences:
- Team Size: Choose how many participants per team (2-12 participants, default: 4)
- Number of Teams: Set how many teams you want to create
- Team Naming: Select a naming style:
- Ordered: Numerical (Team 1, 2, 3…) or Alphabetical (Team A, B, C…)
- Random: Colors, Animals, Food, Countries, or custom names
- Custom Naming: Optionally allow participants to rename their teams
Pro Tip: You can create teams individually or use “Setup Teams” for batch creation. See the Creating Teams guide for detailed instructions.
Step 3: Event Details (Optional)
Add branding and context to make your draft more engaging:
- Event Name: Official name of your event or league
- Description: Brief overview of the event
- Website: Link to your event website or social media
- Location: Physical or virtual location details
- Event Timing: Start and end times for the associated event
Skip Option: This step is entirely optional - you can skip it and add details later in draft settings.
Step 4: Your Participation
Choose whether you’ll be participating in the draft:
- Yes: You’ll be included as a participant and can join teams
- No: You’re organizing only and won’t be drafted
Click “Finish” to create your draft. You’ll be redirected to the draft management page where you can invite participants and fine-tune settings.
What Happens Next?
Once created, your draft enters “Pre-start” mode where you can:
- Invite participants via email, shareable links, or direct invites
- Edit settings at any time before the draft begins
- Monitor sign-ups and manage participant lists
- Start the draft when you’re ready
Before You Start
Account Required: You must have a Draftastic account to create drafts. Sign up is free and supports email or social login (Google, Discord).
Draft States: Drafts progress through states (Pre-start → Started → Ended → Closed). You can modify settings during Pre-start, but some changes are restricted once the draft begins.