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I'm designing my prototype wargaming table just now. I'm pretty handy with timber, and am going all out to make something nice. Not quite geekchic levels, but nice enough looking that it is a piece of furniture.

I've never designed a wargaming table before, and was wondering if there are any killer features, or indespensible features that you have with yours? I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

Main prorities:

Strong & stable, but able to fold down to some extent. It dose not have to completely fold down, but a 6x4 table is too big most of the time.

I would like room for my cards, templates, and tokens to the side. Crowding all of that into the gaming space is often very inconvenient. I'm sure people who play rules out of books would love a book stand option.
As for the surface itself, I like them very flat and somewhat soft like a cloth surface or foam sheet with flock. The reason being that it protects painted minis when they tip over. I'm not a big fan of hard or rough surfaces.

Some sort of lipped border round the outside of the playing area would be ideal, for storing tokens, dice, drinks etc without getting in the way and with minimal chance of knocking stuff on the floor / gaming area. Even something about 4" around the table would suffice.

Storage under the table, for cases and books and scenery and things would also be ideal, especially if you're looking at something permanent.

By prototype I'm assuming that you'll be build them as somthing to sell for a profit.

In which case I think the most important question is "who is your market?"

I can think of two primary markets, Clubs and Individuals.

These have competing requirements,Clubs are more likely to by building more and therefore will be more sensitive to price and extras will not be much of draw. In my opinion a club will want sturdy, collapsible, stackable and of a consistent height.

An individual will probably want collapsible and sturdy but may be interested in a thicker table top, a felt surface, draws or lower shelf.

When I eventually get a place with enough room to have a permanant space for gaming (possibly locked away in the loft ), I would probably build my own table;

+ 6x4
+ Lipped edge with recessed surface to allow gaming tiles to be securely placed inside the playing surface
+ A rack at each end of the under side of the table to slot spare game tiles into
+ Shelving in the centre to store bits and peices of terrain
+ Glass doored sides to store minis on display.

It's funny you should mention this. Someone in Australia is making Dining and Coffee tables with recessed gaming areas and drawers, with wood tops so they can transform into a regular tables. Pretty snazzy, but costs a bunch - about $2500au (actually, that's about what you'd pay in Australia for a top end dining table).

http://www.wargamerau.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=157121

Things that are a must have for a good table at home:

1) Large enough for the game I'm playing (I don't play many 40k games at home, so I'm one to really need a 6x4, and if I do play, a 4x4 table will suffice, cause I'll just play small points.
2) Able to be broken down. If I don't have a fancy Geek Chic table that can double as my normal dining room table, then I want something that I can break down and hide away.
3) Side cart for books, dice, templates, etc...
4) Storage below the table for cases, backpacks, etc...