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I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped.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
Global Gaming Table
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** Removed to stop highjacking the thread (and since I have my own). :) **
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Looks good Rorschach. Finish the darn thing.
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i have no updates. been really busy and since Europe doesnt come out till August, i’m in no hurry. i’ve been trying out different stains to see what looks good
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Rorschach,
it looks like you have 3D terrain (uneven surface), so are you planning a plexi overlay to play on. Will the tt boarders/names & sz be on the map, or on the overlay? -
@WILD:
Rorschach,
it looks like you have 3D terrain (uneven surface), so are you planning a plexi overlay to play on. Will the tt boarders/names & sz be on the map, or on the overlay?I do have a 3D terrain on there! I am planning a glass overlay (I was going to do plexi, but I found a full sheet of glass for free that can be cut to size instead!).
I was originally thinking of putting the borders on the glass/plexi, but I have flip-flopped several times on that issue. The maps highest points will be touching the glass itself, so it won’t be a great distance (the entire thickness from low-point to high-point on the map is only 1/4 inch). And if I put the borders on the glass, that removes the possibility of using it as an all-purpose game table without having a separate piece of glass/plexi as well.
So, I havn’t fully decided yet. I’m going to finish painting the map first. ;)
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Thanks that’s what I thought about the terrain. Nice job so far. Maybe you could put the boarders, and such on the underside of the glass, so they won’t wear off. I would consider a second sheet to go over the whole thing for multi use. Maybe a felt covered sheet of wood, to 2nd as a Texas Hold-em table. That way you could also leave the AA game set-up under it.
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It looks like one big desert. Are you going to paint in the different terrain types?
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@Brain:
It looks like one big desert. Are you going to paint in the different terrain types?
Yessir. One colour at a time … I’m still getting used to the airbrush (it’s been 20 years since I used one).
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what you need is some way to change what maps you are playing, quickly and easily, without any chance of damaging the maps, etc.
the only option i can think of is to put a big lcd under the table, hooked up to a little laptop with pictures of the maps, etc.
i guess you could also have laminated maps that slide in and out of glass sheets…
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what you need is some way to change what maps you are playing, quickly and easily, without any chance of damaging the maps, etc.
the only option i can think of is to put a big lcd under the table, hooked up to a little laptop with pictures of the maps, etc.
Yea I can see it now, honey I have to mount the 73 inch plasma tv from the living room under this table I spent 2 years building so I can play that game you like so much. :-D
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i love your table but try not to steel the tread! :oops: :-D
jonny have you bien working on the table resenntly?Yeah, like I said, I don’t want to take away from the thread … just figured i’d throw something in there since it’s been a while since the origonal poster updated.
I’m not making any more updates on mine here … I’ll post more when I’m done, in my own thread, in the appropriate sub-board.
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Dice tower finished today, pictures tomorrow
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here are some more pics, not finished yet
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more
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the chip holders, one on each side
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the tower, i think this turned out awsome
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another shot of the tower
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i love how you put felt in them, that is a really awesome touch.
now just try not to spill soft drinks and beer on them and its good -
That is remarkable work! :-o
Great job!
Sooooo jealous!
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I am drooling, that is heavenly, uncle Sam.
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