Convertible Game Table for D&D and Board Games

This video showcases my custom designed and built game table. It's great for board games, Dungeons and Dragons, puzzles, and any other tabletop game. Best of all, games can be secured away under the leaves.
Width: 46 inches
Length: 90 inches
Height: 30.5 inches
Inside Height: 3.25 inches
Material: American Black Walnut (Juglans Nigra)
Designed by: Tom Killian, Mark Killian, Jim Goings
Built by: Tom Killian
Table Hardware:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...

[@chancemcclendon3906]

would love basic plans for something like this for my lazy self who doesn't want to make them :D

[@richewilson6394]

I love it I love tables that are secretly something else like pool tables or desk that can open up and you can put away stuff. Combining DND with a table like this is genius!!!

[@bengamingames5002]

Thats awesome! I am looking at converting an old table, super exciting!

[@rafaelgarcia7078]

Awesome table. Let's go, Tom!!!

[@jonlibby7231]

I LOVE the cloth thing that sits on top

[@GoodEnoughParty]

Great craftsmanship! That's a very nice table.

[@jimgoings]

Tom is extremely talented.

[@Christopher19990]

Amazing table! Greetings from austria.

[@MarekDohojda]

OMFG!! JESUS this is so awesome!

[@LeviWedge]

Looks great 👍

[@samansaghe6627]

Amazing I hope I had something like that

[@myopic_cyclops]

Your friend did a great job. There's a company called Wyrmwood that builds tables exactly like this. Their more affordable line is called the Modular Gaming Table (MGT) and has spill-resistant leaves with gaskets to prevent leaks, a hollow area underneath the toppers, and magnetic rails for accessories like cupholders/cardholders/small desks.

[@madmanwithaplan1826]

yeah the MGT was the reason that i just built my own table it was surprisingly easy way WAY less expensive even with all the tools i had to buy. i think i spent... 400 bucks and a weekend or two putting it together. 200 was materials 200 was tools bought keeps ones since i dont plan to use them all the time. and i still have the tools for future use.

[@Wickerless]

I wish I could afford something like this.

[@jimgoings]

I know that I can't! I'm just very fortunate to have a friend willing to gift his time. I paid for the wood, and it was more than I could afford, but worth it. :)

[@carlwilkerson9722]

It's a beautiful piece of furniture even if you never intented to use it for gaming. (Although the side attachments would be invaluable for poker and other card games. First rule of poker is not to place food or drink on the main table surface.)

[@jimgoings]

It's great for card games with the bottom mat. The accessories are awesome for preventing accidents and making more space on the play surface.

[@mattjackson]

This is great, would love to have something similar. Your friend did an amazing job.

[@ensey]

Would love a sketchup file or plans, to try an reproduce it for myself :)

[@Chris-hy9ln]

Awesome table! I've built one a few years ago but not to this caliper of quality. I've been itching to build another one. I love the chairs that go with the table. Where did you get those?

[@jimgoings]

The chairs aren't anything special... got them from a local furniture store. IIRC, they were about $100 each. Nowhere near the quality of the table, but they were what I could afford.

[@Rejoice1631]

How are the individual leaves of the table crafted to prevent leaks from spills while the leaves are in place, and eating & drinking are going on?

[@dc345601]

Any chance you have the plans for the table available somewhere?

[@MrForgemonkey]

I am interested in the hardware that you used for the Sideboard and the cup holders. Can you provide more information or a link to what they are? I am in the process of building a table very similar, and I REALLY like this accessory attachement method better than what I was initally looking to go with. Thanks!

[@jimgoings]

Table Hardware: Here you go! www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FBJS57 www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GS3YS9R

[@MrForgemonkey]

@@jimgoings Thank you so very much!!!!

[@MikeWhiskyTango]

Good idea, but what about spillages on main table leaking down into bottom surface. I guess you would not store anything in there but...

[@jimgoings]

I have a clear vinyl cover that would prevent that. I only bring it out when the grandkids are over. :)

[@MikeWhiskyTango]

@@jimgoings Another good idea

[@IBLostToo]

How many people can sit around the table, comfortably? My groups are 7-8 players and there is usually only enough room for 6.....

[@jimgoings]

As i said in the video, “it seats eight people comfortably”. :)

[@IBLostToo]

Thank you.... I missed that part.... I was too starry eyed over the whole thing 😁😉

[@howellhargreaves5394]

Do you have plans available?

[@jimgoings]

Sorry, no plans. The table was bespoke and not intended to be made more than once.

[@NODHLAN]

do you have plans available?

[@jimgoings]

Sorry, no. It’s a bespoke piece, so no plans were made.

[@dpmaspam]

Copied it all from Wyrmwood - even the cup holders are identical

[@jimgoings]

We absolutely used other table designs for inspiration. Hopefully this table can inspire others as well.

[@Awol991]

Uhm Wrong. Wyrmwood uses magnetic rails. This has a track system the accessories run on and get tightened to.

[@thesistersofbattle]

Another poorly optimized table with respect to D&D and related games.

[@jimgoings]

Care to explain?

[@thesistersofbattle]

​@@jimgoings Sure. First and notably, it lacks a refined shelf. Players will have three things when playing a long-form tabletop game: Reference material, snacks, and beverages. The way this table is build, it would require drink holders installed on the outside for beverages, but that opens the door for the inevitable impact with a chair or need to replace broken additions. Also it requires additional pieces to be stored. This, however, does not account for food (room only allows for one or the other). Sure, players could place them in the play area, but this is yet another recipe for disaster, especially if the food is anything but dry. This, when coupled with multiple players can create a significant space issue. Then we have reference material. Each player is going to have something to maintain character information on, be it a laptop, papers, or tablet. Some players use phones and this is acceptable and, in many cases, preferred. They, however, will also need a dice tray, an optional tower, and space to store their additional dice as you can't just keep it all in the tray, especially when playing technical classes. When you take all of this into account, it leaves the players feeling cramped in their play spaces. A shelf allows them to operate similarly to how a desk in school allows operation, while also allowing space to rest (laying their arms upon). This transitions to the second point. The second notable point is this design forces players to maintain a space in a divided play area. The inherent comfort level of the player is drastically reduced when they have to consistently be reaching into the table (being separated by the table lip) to perform simple tasks. They do not even have the necessary space to operate when checking or adding notes, meaning they are forced to either pick up their writing medium every time they want to do these and other tasks, or place them on their lap, which also points back to the lack of function gained from the table. All additional points are tied to design fixes, but I would prefer to end with a point tailored to fixing the design you have already. This repair should be able to be completed without altering the fixed pieces of the table: If you take the slats out and redesign them to run the length of the table on the outer-most portion of the rails, you can, with vertical supports or a perpendicular brace, create an insert allowing you to add a player shelf of near-perfect dimensions to your design. This new design would consist of two sets of equal-length panels running length or width (your choice) and the second set corresponding to the first to give a minimum of 8" (recommended 12") complete shelving on the perimeter. Then you are left with a central area that can fit your maps or grid pattern play areas. What do we do about the center for when not in play? Simple. We make a flush centerpiece with the same wood. Want to have them fit in better? Overhang and underhang the inside to the outside respectively so you can drop the center in to line up accordingly. The center is made with the same perpendicular support design of the shelves, but as an 80% box leaving the bottom hollow. This design would allow you to leave the felt inside and, if creating it with the overhanging design, you could even forgo the inner box as long as the wood used is sturdy enough, that way you could leave the field undisturbed when ending mid-session and have a fully-functional dinner table. I hope this helps. The revised design should be able to be completed without altering your current foundation, though you would need to consider ripping the 2x4 supports to do so. I am unable to tell from this angle.

[@thesistersofbattle]

@@jimgoings Upon second review, it appears ripping would likely not be necessary. This is good and means less work in the long run. Oh, and if you ripped the current center boards, you could create the above design with the materials you currently have available, minus the vertical supports. You are looking at maybe $20-$40 for the entire fix.

[@jimgoings]

@@thesistersofbattle the fact that you mention using 2x4s to construct furniture tells me you likely have limited experience building furniture. This table is designed to serve multiple purposes, D&D being just one of them. The side boards and cup holders are incredibly strong by design and, in practice, have not caused any of the issues you described. The table is often used for board games and I feel the design is near perfect for that function. Game pieces can’t fall off the edge and games can be left in place and protected indefinitely. In fact, I currently have a puzzle on one side and a board game on the other. Your suggestions for a “fix” would requires a much thicker leaves to run the length. Adding supports would interfere with the internal height. In short, the fix would indeed require a new design. The table is awesome for me and my friends. It might not be your cup of tea, but it’s far better for most functions than a simple table.

[@thesistersofbattle]

@@jimgoings Pardon you. I used the term 2x4 because it was simple, would have worked, and could be completed by anyone. It is the most versatile and user-friendly medium to perform woodworking of any kind and for any purpose. It is also a great way to convey an idea without needing to have a long conversation about every aspect of your table just to be able to formulate a technically correct response. I stated very clearly in my original post what it was specifically poorly optimized for. I then responded to you addressing exactly why. The last thing I did was provide a way you could fix it without having to have your friend do it for you. You start this response insulting me personally without provocation, indicating I did not know anything about this subject, when your furniture was built by someone else. With all due respect, I have been working with wood for over 15 years. Anyone who cannot see how to add an inward-facing shelf without rebuilding the table is, in fact, the one who does not know anything about woodworking. At the end of the day, if you like playing Monopoly and Gloomhaven, fine, but don't post videos if you aren't open to criticism, and don't ask for input if you aren't open for responses.