I was curious to get some feedback/help from the fine gaming folks here about gaming tables and vaults. I have permission to put a gaming table in the renovated basement space but the area it is going is a little constricted. I can fit a 4x6 table comfortably and wanted to do a gaming table since I’m adding low-wall-dungeon tiles and 3D dimensionality to the game. My two main questions are:
-is the vault even necessary, does it add enough to the experience, this isn’t doubling as a dining table so I don’t need to worry about storing games in progress
-how wide a rail around the recessed area do D&D players like? Most tables I’ve seen have only a 3-4 inch rail which is much smaller than a character sheet or book. Gives the largest play area but is less functional for players. Board game players obviously don’t mind this.
Because the area is so tight some of the options people use to address space concerns like personal character sheet trays, desk areas, or cup holders that stick out may be slightly problematic. I had eyeballed the https://www.carolinagametables.com/product/dining-room-game-table-base/ option because of the big perimeter but it loses a LOT of play area (48” wide table has a 32” wide play area). If these side options are necessary I might be able to shuffle around where we put stuff in the room, it’s a big “might” though.
Love to get some feedback from folks who have used these tables.
If this is a dedicated gaming table you do not need the vault. In your use it would be more limiting than useful. Let the players use as much space as they need, until you need the space. Perfectly acceptable to tell a player "move your crap, the party is about to enter the room occupied by your character sheet".
If you are up to building a table you may consider embedding a TV in the top. That would allow displaying maps when not represented by tiles. Other options would be drawers or slide out extensions so players are not piling everything on the table.
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I was curious to get some feedback/help from the fine gaming folks here about gaming tables and vaults. I have permission to put a gaming table in the renovated basement space but the area it is going is a little constricted. I can fit a 4x6 table comfortably and wanted to do a gaming table since I’m adding low-wall-dungeon tiles and 3D dimensionality to the game. My two main questions are:
-is the vault even necessary, does it add enough to the experience, this isn’t doubling as a dining table so I don’t need to worry about storing games in progress
-how wide a rail around the recessed area do D&D players like? Most tables I’ve seen have only a 3-4 inch rail which is much smaller than a character sheet or book. Gives the largest play area but is less functional for players. Board game players obviously don’t mind this.
Because the area is so tight some of the options people use to address space concerns like personal character sheet trays, desk areas, or cup holders that stick out may be slightly problematic. I had eyeballed the https://www.carolinagametables.com/product/dining-room-game-table-base/ option because of the big perimeter but it loses a LOT of play area (48” wide table has a 32” wide play area). If these side options are necessary I might be able to shuffle around where we put stuff in the room, it’s a big “might” though.
Love to get some feedback from folks who have used these tables.
If this is a dedicated gaming table you do not need the vault. In your use it would be more limiting than useful. Let the players use as much space as they need, until you need the space. Perfectly acceptable to tell a player "move your crap, the party is about to enter the room occupied by your character sheet".
If you are up to building a table you may consider embedding a TV in the top. That would allow displaying maps when not represented by tiles. Other options would be drawers or slide out extensions so players are not piling everything on the table.