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yeah,
I'm moving house in the next couple of weeks, and for the first time ever I'll have a dedicated Games Room.
So I'm looking to step up from having a game board resting on a table to having a permanent games table.
I'm thinking of drawing up some plans of my ideal 40k table and asking a carpenter friend of mine for a quote.

I've seen these tables by Geek Chic posted here on dakka. They are Sweet! But they don't sell to the UK.
The Emissary and The Sultan


These are almost the perfect 40k table., but alot of the design seems to be focused on roleplay gamers.
The space around the table is awesome; drawers, dice bins and drinks holders.

I'm not sure I'd use the fold out desks much... I'd prefer the end sections to foldout and reveal more table. So a 6'x4' game area table with a 1' trim could have the table end trims fold out to make the game area 10'x4' Apoc sized!

I think the dropped gaming area is of limited use to a 40k player and creates a minor issue with tanks that can't completely make it onto the table from reserves. I think a drop of 1" will keep the cool 'this is a games table aspect',keep dice on the table and remain functional plus retain ROBB game tiles or custom tiles.

My only other gripe is that the dice bins look massive! and appear to be about 4" deep, Which means from the other side of the table you'd have trouble seeing what a player rolled. Or is the idea to just keep the dice in the bins and roll on the table as normal?

So what tables have you guys seen/played on?
Is there other games table companies out there?
What do you think? +40k Ideas Please!

Panic...

These have been posted a lot, but every time I see them I dream of a future where I've won the lottery and can afford one. I saw some of these tables at PAX East, and they look incredibly classy. I'd definitely like to play on one, but nobody I know has that kind of money.

OT@Brother SRM - oh, dude, you were at PAX:E as well?

On Topic - I always just wanted to build my own big sturdy table.

Make a simple wooden table like this:



And have the top be removable for various different table-top environments (ie grass table, city table, desert, etc). Can keep big plastic tubs full of terrain underneath, and possibly make a second tier of shelves underneath to hold your army cases.

As you say, they are more RPG than WHFB/40k.

If I were designing a Warhammer table, I would probably make a 6x4 table, with a small lip all the way around (to hold modular table pieces in) with a series of shelves underneath, with about 6 inches between them to store modular table sections + terrain as well as some slide out draws/trays to store armies on.

I'd also love to have some pull out "wings" on either side, to make the table 8x4, or even 10x4 if there is enough space/strength in the room/table.

Might make the very end sections of the pull out wings slightly recessed so that I could roll dice in them without having dice roll off the edges.

I built a 6x4 with an additional 2ft drp leaf at one end. A lip round the edge holds my 2x2 foam terrain boards in place and the shelves underneath hold scenery and figure cases. For warhammer shelving arround the room holds figures already on movement trays, makes pick up gaming easy.

The key is work out what you need the table and storage to do, scope the problem you want the table to solve first, then design to solve the problem!

Do you need drink holders, dice trays, scenery storage, figure storage, dice rolling space, book storage, what?

I find the 2ft drop leaf is normally used as an off game table area for books, army lists and dead figures, but thats just me!

yeah,
I think I could spring for the Emissary, but unless I too win the Lottery the Sultan is out of my price range!
But we can dream!

Jin- I think I want to get away from the putting a 6'x4' plank on a table when I'm getting ready to game.
I think all my various different table-top environments will be catered by modular tiles.

SilverMK2- a under table storage for the modular tiles is a awesome idea.

Druidic wrote:I built a 6x4 with an additional 2ft drp leaf at one end. A lip round the edge holds my 2x2 foam terrain boards in place and the shelves underneath hold scenery and figure cases. For warhammer shelving arround the room holds figures already on movement trays, makes pick up gaming easy... ... I find the 2ft drop leaf is normally used as an off game table area for books, army lists and dead figures, but thats just me!

This sounds pretty cool do you have any Photos?

Druidic wrote:...The key is work out what you need the table and storage to do, scope the problem you want the table to solve first, then design to solve the problem! Do you need drink holders, dice trays, scenery storage, figure storage, dice rolling space, book storage, what?

I think that's what i'm doing now, planning out my new game room
I think the drawers and cup holders are extras... but extras make the world a nicer place! Plus it'll mean less cups on my game surface, which will make me happier..

If I don't get my carpenter friend to make a table from scratch, another Idea is to convert a pool table. A quick look at eBay and it shows bargins galore!
They are almost all collection only and going fairly cheap. The major hurdle to cross will be the table ratio... pool tables are generally 2:1 ratio typicaly 6'x3'
But with a bit of work correcting the actual table top A nice quality table like this could be converted to a Sultan on the cheap!!!

Conversions to save money!

In your face Warhammer!

Unless you have to buy a Poker Table blister to get some cup bits, and maybe another pool table so you can swap the legs, because you didnt get the good legs with your original purchase...

@Panic - Oh, I didn't mean a full 6'x4' plank, that'd be a bit much. My thoughts were more in line of having modular pieces (for easier storage) that could be swapped in or out.

Jin wrote:@Panic - Oh, I didn't mean a full 6'x4' plank, that'd be a bit much. My thoughts were more in line of having modular pieces (for easier storage) that could be swapped in or out.

yeah,
LOL.. Sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion, I have a 6'x4' board/plank now that I put on top of a breakfast bar table, my brains thinking next level!
we agree for landscapes modular is the way forward! The more I think about it wasting the space under the table would be a crime.
I just saw redbeards table article, the dice bin / dead section looks useful. He Also makes use of the undertable.

I'm thinking about the slogan at the top of geek chic website, come out of the basement.
I think whatever solution I decide on the finished products style will be important.

Panic...

Panic wrote:
But I fancy having a robust solid table like you describe... and for landscape modular is the way forward! The more I think about it wasting the space under the table would be a crime.

If you had a bunch of 2x4 (or however big) terrain tiles, you could just store them under the table! Considering that table-top wargaming is played standing up more so than RPGs, no reason to not use the space under the table as wargaming storage. Not like you'll need the leg room under it.

yeah,
I agree, but while playing 40k we all sit from time to time and I think the natural reaction when sitting at a table it to throw your feet out under it and stand on stuff...
I think under table cupboards are probabily what's needed to protect stuff. It will be nice if they are recessed a little so you can put your feet a little under the table.

Even if the cupboards are recessed a 1' from the table edge that will make for cupboards at least 4' deep.

Panic...

Sweet.

I briefly thought this was going to be able some "next-level" awesome terrain, photos of which recently circulated around my group.

http://www.earlswoodwargamers.co.uk/terraincorner.html

@Mannahnin - nice. Though I would imagine the longer grass" would be somewhat of a pain to place models on.

For a simple (but very functional) table, you may try this:

http://www.drunkdwarves.com/?p=200

And a pic:

The above pic posted by Solorg is pretty much what I had in mind. Simple wooden table upon which you can place "floor tiles" or what have you. I like the extra space to the side of it that can be used for placement of dead models/books, etc.

My wife & I got a new bed & box spring last year so I scavenged the old box spring to make a frame. The idea was was to embed a "underlevel". It never really came together as well as I'd hoped, but here's what I have. Hope it helps with inspiration:













Then I went to Home Depot & bought some "granite stone" vinyl flooring to wrap around the sides. It is flexible enough that it wrapped around the corners and I could just staplegun it on. (StapleGUN not office staple.)





Then I added molding on top of that, but the corners came out wonky.



I also made the table modular so that I could move terrain pieces around. I like the diagonal look to city tables. Whenever we play Flames of War or just want a grass table, I can take off the buildings and throw a GW Battlemat over the table.





The underhive is sorta cool, but I'm not a super modeler/painter so here's the two sections I've almost finished:



Before that was inserted into table:





The other sewer:

Ok some pictures, I'm lucky, wife, kids and friends all play so we invested £5000 in a log cabin.

Now we have somewhere to game and paint and store everything!

Plus warhammer world is our local store....

Enjoy

yeah,
Dude that is really sweet. it's like a little warhammer world of your own!

Panic...

Mate, that cabin is awesome - I wish my missus would let me build one.

Its nickname is Games Workshed :-)

Then again with out it I'd never get any gamming doneas far too busy a life!

That cabin was a cool idea.

B&Q do quite a good range of cabins, took a long weekend to build, and another day to put on the roof tiles.

Yeah and you could have foam padded
draws

That cabin in amazing I wish my wife would let me have one.

I have been considering building the following game table since I saw a pingpong table with ingenious design:




The main features here are the fold-able sides and the storage cupboard underneath. The sides of the table fold up easily and can be locked in place, allowing you to use the full 8'x4', half the board for small games/limited space, and when totally collapsed takes up only 1.5'x5' of floor space. Mounted on castor wheels, it is short enough to be rolled under a standard door.
The cupboard underneath is large enough to fit another 8'x4' of gaming space (if stacked sideways ||||) or can be configured with shelves or drawers to accommodate terrain.
The playing surface itself can be covered with a basic texture (ie grass mat or painted sand) but the 2" depth on the sides allows another gaming board to be placed over the top, giving boards in one. The shelves along the sides measure 4" across (making the total width of the table to 5'), allowing plenty of space for dice, tape-measures, templates, rulebooks and dead models. If that isn't enough, there is a large shelf between the legs which can hold your travel cases off the floor. Cup holders can also be built into the shelves to prevent spills onto the game board.

Have I sold you on the idea yet ? I'm going to try constructing it in a few months after my exams. Any ideas/issues?

Druidic wrote:Ok some pictures, I'm lucky, wife, kids and friends all play so we invested £5000 in a log cabin.

Now we have somewhere to game and paint and store everything!

Plus warhammer world is our local store....

Enjoy

I hope that sword hanging in the air falls on you and cuts off your arms.

No more warhammer for you.

ENVYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

I like that under hive level idea, I may have to swipe that if I ever get around to building a table.

Solorg wrote:For a simple (but very functional) table, you may try this:

http://www.drunkdwarves.com/?p=200

And a pic:

This table is not too dissimilar from what I have in my basement.
Mine doesn't have the lip around the edge, though. My table-top sits right on top.
It's a bit over 4' by a bit over 8'.

All in all, the components ran me about $70 to $75, IIRC.

Trasvi wrote:I have been considering building the following game table since I saw a pingpong table with ingenious design:

<SNIP>

Have I sold you on the idea yet ? I'm going to try constructing it in a few months after my exams. Any ideas/issues?

Yes. Yes. You have.

Who makes that table, originally?


Eric

at the moment for my d&t project i am making a small battle top for a scene with my marines you all have great ideas and are very very good in designing . i will soon finish my table and post the pics here.

heh i look and i weep at the coolness such a thing is a pipedream to me at present the Hallway of my house is all that can accomodate a reasonable/Apocalypse battle and small 1,500pt game is played on the dining room table....

That or Kill Team.... Meh anyway I used to have a large gaming table two reasonably sized boards pushed together and my room at the house used to have quite large floorspace that was when my mates used to prefer gaming over getting twatfaced every weekend....