I have been playing around with different configurations for a custom table and wanted to note some things I’ve landed on that I really like. A main one thing is having the map mounted so that it can slide around as needed on top of a bigger playing area. My table is 65” x 95” in total with a 5.5” arm rest around the outside and the middle is a recessed neoprene surface. I have the OOB Global map mounted on 1/2” rigid foam with a 1/2” aluminum frame around it. This allows the map to slide up close to whoever’s turn it is, but then be in the middle so both players can roll dice In front of them without disturbing the map and in easy view of the other player. (Plus we like lots of room to roll the bones). This ability to adjust the surface along with a standing height, makes it comfortable for long uses because you can move around more and don’t feel as tied down.
Things I’ve learned and changed from original design - I originally used too big of a frame for the map and mounted it on too high of a foam block (you can see these pictures at the bottom) - it made it hard to see the other player’s dice and the big frame took up too much real estate. My global map is mounted on much thinner foam (the framing is bad, you can see if you look closely) but I also used much thinner aluminum angle for the frame. This gives just enough grip when needing to move the map around (I use furniture slides on the bottom, which glide very nicely on the neoprene) but doesn’t make the whole thing too bulky. Having it an inch or so off the surface keeps the dice off, but isn’t so heigh that you can’t see the other player’s dice rolls. When playing other versions (such as Zombies) the board is much smaller, but it can easily swap in and out on the same table since it can move around where ever it is needed or be pushed aside.
I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped. Standing height with a bar stool is a great way to have the best of both worlds.
The 5.5” rim around the table itself gives you a nice arm rest that doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. I’m playing with how to best add some cushion to this part - open to suggestions. Sometimes I just lay a piece of leftover neoprene on it.
Dice bounce nice on the neoprene and stay off the floor. It also feels nice and has enough give to allow things to slide but be picked up easily. Wouldn’t definitely go with neoprene again as a surface covering.
I made the drawers open to the inside of the table so you can stay hunched over the action while accessing and stowing stuff away. 50/50 on whether I would keep this if I were to do it again. If I were doing it again, I might try to build customer drawers form scratch using actual drawer glides, but that was beyond my ability when I first did this, so I just used clear plexiglass boxes with aluminum pulls mounted on them. It’s nice having them clear, and I was happy with how the pulls came out, but without glides they can be a little fussy sliding in and out of their slots.
I originally designed the table so that I could put a cover surface back on top when not in use, but find I don’t really ever do that, so if I were to do it again, I might not mess with that part (I never even finished staining those as you can see in the pictures).
CF362D52-269F-4480-8CBB-08139099138F.jpeg A9E12EA1-66EB-4671-86AC-68C62FD30AD5.jpeg 858DE1F2-030A-4D5A-93E4-70A7D1180ADB.jpeg 8F513EE0-DA37-4BA9-880E-4D5EF7BF431F.jpeg F0188165-757B-4CC1-BF67-5045832283C9.jpeg 2E3CD627-0D31-4121-ACF8-682F9F58A40B.jpeg
The Good Captain's Digital Map Repository
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This will act as a “one stop shop” for anyone interested in my work regarding digital downloads of AnA boards:
Classic (Milton Bradley): http://www.mediafire.com/view/x2tq68bqzf9svnv/Axis Allies Board.jpg
Europe (1999): http://www.mediafire.com/file/kmjn20usjj693ec/Europe1999.png/file
Pacific (2000): http://www.mediafire.com/file/322b1gupqmgnhm4/Pacific2000.png/file
Revised: http://www.mediafire.com/file/h3p3rbk0hq9xeiu/Revised.png/file
Guadalcanal: https://www.mediafire.com/file/3g7hongk3pk1ft6/Guadalcanal+Board+Final.png/file
Xeno Games 3rd Edition: https://www.mediafire.com/file/7i8mgxaom0d9oqw/Xeno+The+World+at+War+3rd+Edition+Board.png/file
Xeno Games 4th Edition (same map structure just published with different colors): https://www.mediafire.com/file/v26nobwcpm246rw/WaW4th.png/file
Fortress America (1986): https://www.mediafire.com/file/f4ku5mf8oxyszxa/FA.png/file
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Hello Captain - any chance you might post a North Africa larger map file at some point? We really enjoy your larger maps and use many of them that we printed out for a large/single piece map. Thank you sir!
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@Vital-Signs I’ll see what I can do but it will be awhile. There might be an additional layer of complication with that one as I am in the development credits and had to sign an NDA - but good point, let me take a look.
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@The_Good_Captain OK - understood. Thank you Captain!
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@The_Good_Captain Captain: We just printed a custom mat using your Fortress America map file. Outstanding!!! We also use your A&A Classic map as well. Any chance we might see your version of Shogun and Conquest of the Empire map files in the future? We would really enjoy having all (4) to complete the MB Gamemaster Series! Many Thanks to you Captain!
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I have this for Conquest of the Empire: https://www.mediafire.com/file/1hf6u38ni6680by/cote_map.jpg/file
I don’t have Shogun. =(
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@The_Good_Captain Many Thanks again! - This version of the conquest of the empire map does not have the $ tracker at the bottom, correct? Also, we will keep our fingers crossed for a possible shogun map in the future. That original MB gameboard gets really crowded. Thank you
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@Vital-Signs I’m not sure about Conquest. I’ve never played either of these games - this map just happened to be on file with VASSAL. I don’t see anything for Shogun. If something changes, I’ll let you know and I’ll keep my eye out.
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@The_Good_Captain OK understood. Yes we were hoping to get images (like Fortress America) of the Milton Bradley version of Conquest & Shogun. Thx again Captain!
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@Vital-Signs I totally respect originality. Here is the best I can do: Most my maps are actually photos taken very carefully with a good quality camera in good lighting (I don’t know how to scan these things). If you get me a good quality photo of the map you want, I will slowly edit it for you and smooth out all the board lines and blemishes.
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@The_Good_Captain Yes Captain! We really enjoy your photo edited maps, and we have them custom printed out for our games. They are awesome. We would love the original MB Conquest of the Empire and Shogun maps via an edited photo like your other maps. Unfortunately we dont have a high quality digital camera! Thank you for your offer to assist us!
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@The_Good_Captain Captain: OK - one of our players has a digital camera. If we take a photo of the Shogun and Conquest of the Empire gameboards, do you have any advice for them to turn out as best as possible? I’m thinking I lay them each out (separatley of course) on a table/floor and take a picture in good lighting, yet try to avoid shadows, etc.? Thank you!
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@Vital-Signs in my experience, you don’t want lights above the board especially if the game board is clear coated (like the board for Revised).
Standing on two chairs helps.
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@The_Good_Captain OK understood. We will give it a shot nd get back with you. Thank you
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@The_Good_Captain Captain - we have taken digital photos of these (2) gameboards. How can we get the files to you for your review/opinion of the images’ quality, etc.? Thank you!
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@Vital-Signs upload each file to media fire and send me the link. or email me at ryanvoz@yahoo.com
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@The_Good_Captain OK Great - each image looks to be around 8MB. Is email OK with this size, or do you suggest mediafire? Thank you!
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@Vital-Signs good point. if mediafire doesn’t work, use dropbox (it’s free). In either case, just email or post the links. Mediafire is quicker and easier imo. But dropbox is fairly straight forward as well.
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@The_Good_Captain OK - here is the mediafire link with a folder for Shogun and 5 pics that we took. What do you think of the image quality, etc.? I may be able to use a higher quality image setting on our camera if you feel it would be more ideal, etc.
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/klw57fmb9585c/Shogun -
@The_Good_Captain And here is the link for Conquest of the Empire folder with 4 pics:
https://www.mediafire.com/folder/c5r0umue8d14i/Conquest_of_the_Empire
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