Do you NEED a Board Game Table!?

Of course you do not need to buy a board game table. Then again, you don't need to even be playing board games, right? So how should you weigh your decision if you decide to take the plunge into buying one of these delightful works of carpentry? How does the arena-like usage with the rail running around work for games? How is the mat like? Can you use it for other things besides playing games? We use the Duchess, a board game table from boardgametables.com (bought through kickstarter) as our comparison.
The Duchess was our first board game table ever in high school, and we were super excited! How do we feel about the purchase about 4 years later, having gone back and forth from this table to other houses' normal tables? Well, it definitely adds to the tabletop experience, but it's by no means necessary. Keep watching though, because we have a lot more to say!
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#Boardgames #gamingtable #tabletop

[@MarlonDait]

Something feels good about getting the answer to the somewhat click bait title immediately as the video starts

[@josephperez2089]

I immediately appreciated this video for actually not following the norm of 98% of click bait internet.

[@adelfaidah3224]

i've never been more satisfied by the intro of a video

[@Metroidam11]

Thanks for addressing the raised edges. I've always wondered what day to day would look with that.

[@TheWalkingBad]

I just went to the store, bought a 4’ x 5’ piece of cured plywood, some 2” x 4”, a pleather sheet, and sone trim for $140 and made a pretty damn good table top!

[@Lordoftheslugs]

That opening just made me subscribe, almost doesn’t even matter what you do in the rest of the video 😄

[@Hudsonbba]

Counterpoint to your wonderful video: I will say the absolute BIGGEST thing that has a made a gaming table a MUST have in my family’s opinion is that it allows you to set up a game in advance. Reducing this downtime of setup when friends come over has drastically improved the amount of games we play (having a vault depth of at least 4 inches or more is a must for miniature games). Plus having a large table allows us to have even two games setup. Bare in mind we have a toddler and a baby so anything to save time is a gaming life saver.

[@Shelfside]

That is a really good angle that I didn't even consider. That was helpful about 1-2 times for us so far, but I imagine that in a family where time is tight you could end up just pre-setting up or even saving game states. The vault is really nice in the times I have played miniature games (Infinity) for sure (no dice rolling off of table)!

[@angrytheclown801]

I went to a thrift store and got a large round cafeteria table for 25 bucks. Maybe one day I'll stick felt on it, but it can seat six people comfortably. Really, that's all I need.

[@willmolinar]

Love this insightful person talking about the same feelings/associations I have with the gaming hobby. It's nice to know someone else is going through the same things I am.

[@mattb6999]

Thanks for the function review. There are lots of reviews of gaming tables but almost no one talks about the experience of using them. I have a family and not a lot of time so my biggest driver for this style table isn't play, but pausing a game for two nights or 10 and coming back to the game in progress. Otherwise, I figure just use a normal table (really, how big of a problem is dice hitting the floor) with a neoprene mat on top (if you play games with cards.

[@chrillet]

I´m a backer on the Wyrmwood Kickstarter right now. Will cost more than 800 with the addons I want but it look fantastic and they have very good track record. Own severeal of Wyrmwood´s Dice Trays, Dice Vaults, Pencils, Gemstone Dices and such and I´m very happy with the quality on all of them.

[@nagromgreen]

My first woodworking project was my own custom board game table last year. It can be a bit expensive to get started in woodworking but now I can make all sorts of things like board game coffee tables! My table is dining table height and size with a 2.5” vault depth and 5.5” rail. I’ve also made cup holders that completely detach so you don’t have the mess underneath. A compound mitre saw and circular saw were all I used with 2x4s 2x6s and plywood. Very strong and after finishing looks great. Give it a try if you’re somewhat handy!

[@DenisRyan]

Tron LP! Every time I watch one of your videos, I find another reason to love your content! Also, great, honest review.

[@Shelfside]

One of the best soundtracks ever made! God bless Daft Punk

[@jayd4219]

I went with gametoppers llc, like a couple people mentioned below. Various sizes, options, different mats (or only buy a mat without the table topper). Extra end-rail to cut the size in half and transport it. Take it off to get your regular table back. The biggest drawback for me personally is that I wanted it to be a mostly permanent setup, so I spent WAAY more time finding the perfectly sized and style wooden undertable. Overall... zero regrets. However, like was mentioned in the video here, this was a purchase for ME. Friends and family barely acknowledge it, but I see and feel its functionality compared to before everytime its played on.

[@rickalvarado6333]

I literally liked and subscribed within 2 minutes of ever seeing anything you published because you're hilarious and straight to the point.

[@TheEternal792]

I would recommend people build their own table. I built a game table for $300 (and half of that was on 6 stainless steel folding, mounted cup holders at $25 each). I bought a $50 dining table off of craigslist, bought headliner fabric and red velveteen, and a couple pieces of wood to cut, stain, and screw in around the outside for rails. Oh, and I did also install LED lights within the rails in addition to outlets on both long sides of the table, but those are definitely more luxurious additions that just require more time and effort.

[@matt-lang]

This table really makes the Wyrmwood kickstarter look like a steal. Their table seems to have addressed some of the main concerns with this one, and they have a really solid track record for quality.

[@JLX5]

I wonder how many videos like this one will come up as soon as Wyrmood starts delivering the staggering amount of tables they have on this Kickstarter and are not prepared to deal with.

[@dogbert32]

@@JLX5 considering that their tiers are for delivery timeframes (not specific products/bundles), it's a 60 day kickstarter, and it's modular so they can bulk produce a bunch of different components I feel they are actually very prepared for the volume. They also haven't been rushing out new stretch goals when all of the stretch goals were cleared within 20 minutes. This along with not caving to pressure to open up more free shipping tiers or any kind of free shipping stretch goals makes me feel prepared. They are also purchasing a company they already had a strong relationship with to help support the increased production needs.

[@milacheatom9060]

Wr

[@milacheatom9060]

Jano L qee is a good day to be bring back in us game and and play with us all day long and we we can get together and and then we cannot we have to do it again and we can get together again and we can get get together

[@JLX5]

@@milacheatom9060 no more drinks for you lady 🤣🤣🤣

[@KNic0lson]

Ummm I might get one of those massive mouse mat covers / gamemat for my normal table

[@AuthorDiCristofano]

You can have a custom one cut at Viking Mats for about 100 bucks. I bought one cut to my dining table's dimensions, and it works great. The neoprene is actually thicker than what you'd find on a mid-level gaming table.

[@KNic0lson]

@@AuthorDiCristofano Nice thanks for the tip! :)

[@johnball3934]

Great video, a good analysis of some of the pros and cons of board game tables. I'm glad you mentioned the topper; it's always such a big selling point, but the reality is that every leaf is heavy, unwieldy, and has to be put somewhere when not in use! I also consider the rail and vault controversial. I love them, but game tables are always a trade-off of leg space, elbow height, and reach distance. I make my own tables, and was planning to do something similar to the Rathskellers Phalanx. However, while only 6' tall, I'm the tallest person in my regular group by a couple inches, and the rest of the group has mentioned a preference of no rail, or a lower rail. So I'm thinking I'll copy the Sunnygeeks design, where everyone can choose their own edge space, and I still have a fenced in play area. Obviously, the complexity and overall effort will be greater for it, but maybe I really can please all of the people, all of the time..

[@danielengel4593]

Oh I just found a new board game channel, great. subscribed. I have no table at my new place right now, so I'm really considering to buy a gaming table to fit all my needs.

[@markchristy9704]

Agree on most of your points. I have the same table and had the same problem with the vault floor. Your point about the height of the rail and impact on posture is absolutely spot on. Even more so, when you consider the implications once the topper is in place. I'm 6 ft tall and I feel like a kid eating at the grown-up's table when I put the topper on and then try to eat a meal at this table. The table top ends up being about 2-3 inches higher than a conventional table and the difference is very noticeable. All that said, I'm still glad I got mine.

[@coasteray1]

I have a regular dining room table in my dining room which never is used for games. In a spare bedroom I have a Game Toppers topper with a folding table underneath. The top of my rails is 32" from the floor, with the game surface being 30.5" from the floor (vault is 1.5" deep). The folding table surface is a standard 29" from the floor. My chairs are 17.75" in the middle. Overall, the 32" does help in my situation with sitting up straighter to alleviate back strain. Of course, this depends on one's height, torso size, chair height, and whatnot. Everyone's different, so I'm thinking there's no perfect solution whether talking about regular dining tables, a Game Topper on top of a folding table, a dedicated dining/gaming table ($$), or making your own table. Some folks are happy enough with just a mat on their regular table. We all must figure out what works. I'm really happy with my setup (and cupholders and cool Game Toppers mats). It's all in fun, so that's what matters🙂

[@maxpokhiton8242]

Such a niche idea for a video. Love it!

[@ryangilmore3678]

Totally agree with your last statement. No you don't need one. But I ended up making a topper similar to what you have and it makes EVERYTHING better. I'm so glad I did make one.

[@Tylers_Dad]

I’ve watched a few of your videos; this is the one that led me to Subscribe :-). I appreciate your honesty!

[@Shelfside]

Welcome aboard!

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

I’m going to build one. I want it to have cubbyholes, cup holders, sunk in middle, built in dice trays, a wide writing surface and probably some electrical features. I have tools and some basic knowledge on how to build stuff. It won’t be a work of art but it will be functional. Someone will also inherit it lol. It’s also going to be long enough to sit 8-10 people comfortably bc I have a large family. It’s going to be a few years before I start on it though. I need to get a Graceland Building brought out 1st bc I live in a single wide and we don’t have room for a table lol.

[@shortydancer]

I have q decent size table in my studio apt. I just bought a mat from amazon for 50 bucks. Made all my games so much better

[@jaredk6428]

I came to similar conclusions when contemplating the wyrmwood KS this week. I trust them a bit more on quality, but lots of that is the marketing they do through KZbin. And even with that, getting all the extras would still push it over a grand.

[@CesarIsaacPerez]

Wait up. Their KS is up!!!

[@KommissarAzuraCh]

I'm now contemplating to make my own gaming table on 6'x4' instead. 5'x3' would be too small for my wargaming needs and could still double duty for my big box games.

[@Benchp300]

Looking at this in 2024. Why didn't this get more views? Love that he opened hard

[@Shelfside]

I'm honestly shocked this has so many views lol. Cheers! -Ashton

[@praisepanda8313]

Nice timing with the Wyrmwood gaming table kickstarter!

[@Shelfside]

This is crazy, I didn't even know that was a thing, and now I'm on the fence about backing that one :)

[@matthewwatson56]

@@Shelfside Highly Recommend it. They address pretty much all of the downsides you mentioned (except price obviously) and they're well below the premium price range you mentioned

[@vikassm]

Immediate answer Appreciated! Thank you for NOT doing what almost everyone else does!! 👍

[@Shelfside]

ahaha, thanks man! Couldn't resist -Ashton

[@bioburden]

Intro genuinely made me lol. Great job man!

[@andredavids9324]

Also love my gaming table. (Custom made here in South Africa as we don't have all these fancy Duchess and Wyrmwood stuff around here). Just wish I knew where to get that play surface material here. Currently have a normal pool table felt finish :/ Since I could leave Gloomhaven semi set-up, believe I played it double as what I initially anticipated!

[@gabbasgad1982]

What a coincidence, i was looking for a board game table yesterday and you release this video

[@MyMiniMovieMagic]

Same. Kinda scary but also awesome because he was able to talk me out of it. Really glad he did, too lol

[@Nichaotic]

And more of a coincidence is that the Wyrmwood Gaming Table is on Kickstarter now. the link is above in DoctorEngrish's post

[@stevefratus1546]

I backed a Duchess on Kickstarter from Boardgametables.com. I haven’t put it together yet though. I’ll definitely play more when it is built.

[@total_Gulby]

I also got a duchess. I bought a 3x6 yoga mat from amazon, cut off a foot. Sitting under the playmat, it improves the play surface and smooths over the ridge.

[@Shelfside]

that's a really good idea, I think I'll have to try that out!

[@bgm-1961]

All the issues you pointed out regarding the rails is why I won't buy a "gaming" table.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Yea, rail tables are not really good for gaming. Might as well use a pool table at that point.

[@lystic9392]

Hmm what if the rail was very small? I do have a good table. Wonder if I could turn it into a table more optimal for gaming. I could just get a suede playing mat. But you do want to be able to place drinks. So a smaller mat. Or removable cup holders maybe? Hmm.

[@DoctorEngrish]

I feel like several of your concerns with the Duchess have been addressed by Wyrmwood's new modular table. Namely build quality, topper portability, and appearance (I feel like WW's table could easily pass as a quality dining table). This is just my opinion based on what I've seen online. I really appreciate your perspective as someone who has owned a table for years. Great video! For anyone curious about Wyrmwood's new table, check it out here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/wyrmwood/modular-gaming-table/description

[@Shelfside]

Almost caved there for a second and instantly backed, the table looks fantastic!

[@protox13]

Wyrmwood's table looks really nice but with all of the options the Duchess lacks, and at the basic maple, it's still triple the price. At that point I'd look at more bespoke tables. The Jasper is still a good compromise I think for folks who don't want to spend that much.

[@DoctorEngrish]

@@protox13 - The Wyrmwood table is definitely more expensive (they really get you on the cost of their accessories 😅). That said, I think your numbers might be a bit misleading. Looking at the cost of the Duchess (discontinued), Jasper and Wyrmwood Modular Table (just the tables, toppers and US shipping), here are the rough totals: Duchess = $798 Jasper = $1173 WW (Maple) = $1195 WW (Espresso) = $1445 Its is more expensive, especially if you choose to add accessories like cup holders or components organizers. It won't be triple the cost though, unless you are opting for a more exotic wood. I hope this helps you or anyone else looking into various options.

[@muchendai1361]

I ended up with a foldable 6x4 table + custom mat for a around 300 dollars and custom made a plastic surface for it to eliminate the folding hinge bumps. It's not as fancy as a wooden one, but I get portability if needed. No cup holder though :(

[@spankyavalon]

A few years back my dad and I built a gaming table. I now use it for my dinner table, as well as for board games. I have few complaints (mostly in terms of crumbs and liquids from the 3 kids can get into the table vault area, and having to redesign how I support the legs as mine are slightly wobbly - not a carpenter). As for the sides, I love that I can support my arms on the side and not risk bumping into the pieces below. My height is the same as a normal table, and the rails are wider than it looks like his are as I have added drawers in the arms of the table for extra storage. For the neoprene pad, I got a cheap roll online and had enough to use a second for a mouse pad for my computer, and I agree that burgundy is a great color, with my other side being black. They also are great for puzzles and legos as well. Can't finish the puzzle? Throw the top back on and finish it later.

[@Shelfside]

not bumping the pieces below is definitely a big plus- especially on those games with a ton of tiny bits (Ti4 I'm looking at you). Maybe the rails are lower for you, or your chairs are higher to not cause back pain? The burgundy is absolutely beautiful, yep! Wish I had black instead of the neon blue featured here. Definitely heard more in the comment section about how useful the topper really is for families! Will have to see how it fares in the future, still a young one here ahaha. -Ashton

[@jackwilderman-nielsen2862]

All I want a table for is the mat. And you can go online and find mats that you can customize to fit your table and have whatever design you want. So a normal table can have a mouse pad top

[@Shelfside]

yep! And once you're done playing, you can easily roll up the mat, its super convenient -Ashton

[@Stormy5430]

I am simply interested in them because I want an easy stop and go table to play on by simply uncovering it. Set up and Dis assembly is why I need one. We have such little time to play we want a time saver.

[@jAANUSZEK0700]

I did my gaming table in similar size with metal topped with glass for about $60, for a playmate I used a car interior finish material called Nubuck with a small layer of sponge underneath, that gives playing experience better than in casino. Rail I s about 2cm/ 0.8inch. Best thing ever. I'm using it as a dining table all the time. When we order some food while playing we can pause the game put on the top, eat without a problem and restart the game where we left it. I still have to repaint it, since I did horrible job first time. In conclusion, if you can get gaming table while not spending fortune on it and you play more than once a week it is must have. Check out Ikea Bjursta table modded to be board gaming table.

[@Nevalor]

So we had an Ikea table which you could pull out to make it longer. With that we are building our own gaming table. Below the pull out table surface we installed a "second floor" and tadaa - cheap gaming table. Does use a bit of handywork though.

[@chrisperrien7055]

Folding tables and/or tables with folding legs are nice for saving space, but they can be easily knocked/bumped and pieces do the same . Dining room tables are "alright" though many can be short on space, unless you have a huge one, though those can be too huge sometimes. I lucked out and found an nice outdoor patio table made of steel- 3' 6" x 7' . for $25 at a thift shop (it was $250 retail price/ 90% off), with easy detachable legs. Has little gaps on the table top(many are grated/split sheet steel, or glass), but I cut a piece of card-board for a cover, and also a cover of from a damage 4x8 Celotex (was cheap too-talk to a hard-ware store manager about damaged sheet pieces , they often sell at a bargain). My table is a tough solid gun-metal monster. Bump it and it will bruise you and not move LOL. I am lucky to have a whole room to keep it set-up and space to move around it. And can lean it up aginst the wall, and pull off the legs , and it doesn't take up much space that way. If you buy a big outdoor(picnic/patio) table, look for detachable legs Anyway, so if you need a big table go check out thift/liquidation stores where they get lots of lots of merchadise from closed or damaged stores, especially ones that get outdoor/office furniture lots(Don't buy a table at retail price) . 80-90% off on a huge table, puts its within the bound of us "poor " people, who can't afford a $500-$1000+ Bruce Wayne mansion dining room/game table. Or just want something better than a flimsy folding table/folding leg plastic conference table (which big ones aren't cheap either)- liquadation stores can have them cheap too . Just have room to put it/set-it up somewhere :)

[@Shelfside]

whoa steel!!? Man that's super sick, would love to try gaming on one of those one day. Also thrift shops are the way to go, nice! -Ashton

[@GianlucaCasu]

I appreciate the spoiler at the beginning mate. Really :D

[@bane9179]

Feels very honest . Nice . It really feels that games like scythe with 5 players becomes hard

[@Shelfside]

Oh yeah man, 5P is really that spot where things start getting crowded for a bunch of games. Glad I could help ya out! -Ashton

[@spookytkid]

Sounds like you need to go to the lumber yard have them cut you a piece of plywood , one piece, to fit over the top of the wood surface. Get some thick stuff and it will raise the height of the mat and maybe alleviate some of that back strain by by bringing the mat closer to the level of the top of the rail. One cut to fit piece would make a nice even surface. Remember to nip off one of the corners just a bit to make a spot to get your finger in there to be able to pull it out if/when you need to. Lumber yard will cut it for you if you have measurements.

[@Shelfside]

thanks for the tips! will have to keep this comment handy

[@protox13]

I got this too and I think it strikes a nice balance between price and quality and function. I had similar QC issues but as you mentioned customer service fixed it. USB charges would have made it close to ideal. For cheaper and somewhat comparable tables, I would have considered poker tables from Walmart. Definitely doesn't look at nice but for about $100 can't beat the price.

[@Shelfside]

USB charges would be really neat for sure, didn't even know that was a thing for tables until recently. I would point out that the shape of poker tables isn't always good for games with rectangular maps, and that they're definitely not good for eating on. Used to have an old one back in high school and just wasn't that great for anything besides playing card games (like Poker) and Catan.

[@veizour]

LOL @ first minute. Good stuff :D

[@daganisoraan]

For years we played on my 3x5 feet flat table. Ouf at some point it was really cramped, like laying the Rise of Fenris Scythe campaign with 7 players. Now I have a 4x6 normal flat table, the biggest I can have due my limited space and its so great. My dream would be to have a 4x8 table.

[@johnball3934]

I think it depends on the intended purposes of the table, YMMV. Try the 4x6 for a while. I have used a 4x8 for at least a decade. I'm going to downsize to 4x6, reclaim 2 feet of floorspace. Sure, 8' comfortably seats 8 people, but it's less practical if all 8 are trying to play the same board game than a 6' table. And I never want to play an RPG with 8. On the rare occasions I need more seating, I put a folding table at the end. I can currently put it against the end of the table game, for a net gain of 2 seats. With an extra 2 feet of floorspace, I should have room to completely separate the tables, and have seating between them. I usually set up a separate table for food and beverages when having a board game party anyways. Unless you're playing big tabletop wargames, or have a huge RP group, not much need for an 8' table in the game room in my experience.

[@chrisperrien7055]

IMO 4X8 is too big. It gets impossible to reach across. Much less having room in a room for it and people to move around it . Now for minuatures, it might be needed , but very few board games would call for it- (monster board games)- Like the old Third Reich game and such

[@henrilahteenmaki3838]

Man, the opening is just god tier in this time of click-bait and add revenue. I actually build my own gaming table. The misses got an Ikea solid wood dining table that was in prime condition from a recycling center for 5€. It was a steal really. I just removed the top and left the pins for alligning when its put back as a cover/topper. Drilled some 20x20mm bars on the inside and put a 8mm plywood in there. The plywood I was covered with some cheap speed cloth. The end result is actually really solid, since the frame is made out of tough birch. Total cost of those was 20€ for the ply wood and 10-15 for the rest. The final play area is around 85cm x 105 cm. The quality is ofcourse the same as the "car priced" ones, but it was a fun project and it looks like our regular dining table, so its approved by the other party of our household.

[@theAstarrr]

A concealable table is worth it just for being able to pause games without having to write down so many details and keep decks in their current state.

[@Dwarfurious]

I've only recently gotten into board gaming, still working on collection probably wont exceed 30 board games but i have literally no table, not even a dining table. So probably worth getting a decent one for me!

[@Shelfside]

nice! Best of luck with the search, and remember to get the topper for normal use! -Ashton

[@Retrobution]

5:36 that crease in the middle, ideally it should be just one board, not one split in two, plywood does this all of the time unless it is fixed solid to something. I would get a 6x1 length of wood, underneath the table then cut the length so it fits flush to the base of the table so that the crease can fix flat to it, load of wood glue on the 6.1. It is a case then of having something underneath the wood then pushing upwards so that you have force acting back when you press the crease down onto it, then basically tack it down with a few screws and strong staples, screws would be best. or, the best way would be to get plywood, minimum 12mm, and basically take the table apart and replace it with one sheet of that :) But even then, would would need lengths of batten underneath 1x1 going across the underside for the sheet to fix to, to stop it bowing down or warping over time

[@Shelfside]

hey thanks for the detail man! Not sure if I want to take the table apart, but I definitely want to return to make the fixes one day. Will remember this! -Ashton

[@michaelmueller260]

I'm looking at purchasing a gaming table from a local(ish) company. I went down and checked out their shop and some samples, and really liked what I a saw. A couple questions: 1 - Standard table height vs pub height: We normally play on pub height dining tables, so thinking I'll go with that height for a game table as well. I feel like it might be better for the posture issue, and also gives the option to stand and play (I typically sit for a bit, stand for a bit...which seems to help the back situation). Do you (or others) have any preferences as far as table height goes? 2 - For the base model, they use a 4" thick rail, as opposed to the 2" on yours. They will custom size it, but I'm wondering if you (or others) have any thoughts on whether a thicker rail would be a positive or negative. Thanks!

[@Shelfside]

1 - I actually never thought about the exact table height preferences. Took out the ol' tape measurer- and it looks like 27 to 28 inches is ideal for me, which would be a a bit shorter than the 30 inches on the Duchess in the video. The mileage varies with the chairs of course, but the chairs we use I would say fit my legs perfectly. 2 - A thicker rail would maybe give a little more leeway in terms of dividing pieces from the main board and give you a little more room to write. I think the problems may come from players being even more isolated from the arena part of the table, as the current rail currently can cause some problems for shorter players, forcing them to stand up. Also, it would basically just add more volume to the table without freeing up space for actual game boards, decently sized player aids, etc. It also may look a little funny looking in my imagination. Hope that helped, cheers!

[@michaelmueller260]

@@Shelfside Good info... thanks, I appreciate it!

[@sams.7448]

You're becoming one of my favorite channels! Keep up the awesome work!

[@hoth1945]

Have you looked into the wyrmwood gaming table that’s on Kickstarter atm?

[@chocklad9]

Great video ;)

[@hauntedcity]

I am a Duchess owner, as well, and have been enjoying it for a several years. BoardGameTables's successor to the Duchess, the Jasper, looks like it's addressed many of the issues we've faced (like better cup holders). I actually purchased a Jasper topper, since the 3-piece top is much easier to handle than the original. The color doesn't quite match, but the ease of use makes it worth it for day-to-day use.

[@stevefratus1546]

I haven’t built mine. What issues are there? Oh. I see. I didn’t watch enough of the video. God I hope my table is ok.

[@hauntedcity]

@@stevefratus1546 My Duchess is still great. Negatives: I don't really care for the swivel cup holders. Also, I had a very early table, and the pre-drilled holes were a liiiittttllle bit off. I don't think all the corners are exactly 90 degrees, because I have a Jasper table topper where all 3 panels don't exactly line up. I think that was fixed on later Duchess tables.

[@SavantApostle]

Wood can always warp as it dries so buy the right wood. I think this is the sort of project every group should do in order to customize the table, at least the dimensions, to soot the group's needs.

[@weatherbutinspace6799]

Taboo Buzzer is great.

[@warpo007]

yeah about 50 board games in, I had to get a table. But i built my own! I'm not a carpenter. however, this isn't my 1st time building something. KZbin taught me everything i know! Wanted to save money. still spent $2,000AU. That's a lot. but i didn't hold back on materials. Australian hard wood (jarrah) LEDs, custom neoprene play mat. on wheels, seats 6 comfortably, has a 50mm recess with lids. I play double the amount of games i normally would have played. Leave them set up. put on the covers. so awesome. if you are a serious game collector. A recessed game table is essential.

[@Shelfside]

LEDS!!?? Sheesh that's really cool. We're looking to build our own one day, so thanks for sharing! Leaving games setup is definitely a draw for most, just doesn't occur to us because we don't use this table for anything else besides games. We got a table video coming up in the future too! Cheers! -Ashton

[@warpo007]

@@Shelfside Hi Ashton! New sub btw. Freaking awesome channel. Clearly a lot of hard work. very entertaining! My table gets used for dining sometimes, Or play some light roll & writes at the start of the game day, and have a hardcore euro set up ready to go under the covers... It's just nice to "not have to pack up" and not losing game pieces off the edge of a table.

[@Shelfside]

@@warpo007 ahaha thanks man! Glad you appreciate the channel, we just finished filming our new table vid and it should be dropping sometime soon. We found that having multiple toppers in the new system really helped with 'partial' usage as well if you wanna eat snacks or something on the side. Cheers! -Ashton

[@Nick_Whiskey]

thanks for the quick 10 second answer

[@residentevilryan]

You said you could have back issues because of the height. Could you tell me the how high from floor to top of rail. just want to compare to my standard table

[@Hudsonbba]

Regarding the Kickstarter Wyrmwood tables the amount of people backing it still absolutely blows my mind so many people are willing to spend that much on a gaming table when you can buy the equipment and materials for MUCH less. Not to mention wait SO long to get it! We built our table in under 2 months and it is very sturdy and will last a LONG time. I understand it may seem daunting but the learning curve to build a gaming table is much more shallow than one would think and there are SO many tutorials out there on how to do so.

[@bimmer3000]

what kind of materials did you use to make the table, and what kind of design?

[@Hudsonbba]

bimmer3000 Our table is made of Oak. In fact a couple posted on the r/boardgames subreddit that is without a doubt extremely similar to our table and in fact they must have had watched the same tutorials we did. Their video is a fantastic start to anyone curious in building a table. Link: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3KXdX-Yophrhdk

[@dot0verdrive]

Not everyone has good hardwood available in their area(major metropolitan areas rarely have it available, and if it is, transportation is more difficult in cities). Also, having the space necessary to build it is also a luxury that many people do not have. Plus, that assumes that you have a table saw or at least a decent miter saw and a number of other tools that most people do not have, and would cost hundreds of dollars to buy if you do not already have them. Also don't forget to factor in the time it will take you to build, plan, or at least figure out the plans you are following. If all of that is available to you, go ahead and build it, but if not it probably wont make sense. Also, strictly from a skills standpoint, most people do not have he skills required to operate tools to build it, and even fewer have the skills to do the more intricate work such as turning legs or routing out the groove gaskets on the toppers. Also, don't forget that 1. You are never, ever going to get a finish on your table that is equivalent one done at a professional furniture shop, and 2. Your table will also never be as well built or durable as one made professionally. I backed because not all of those factors lined up for me. I probably a sufficient set of tools and skills to build a table, but the wood is just not readily available for me, it's expensive, I don't have a truck to transport it, and I maaaaybe have enough space to build it. Plus, i don't have the time or energy to spare to put one together, and honestly, I'm sure it wouldn't turn out that nice, lol. I see nothing wrong with paying quality money for quality furniture. And honestly, 1-2k is not excessive for a quality, hardwood dining room set, it always has been that way, til IKEA came along wih their disposable furniture model and changed people's perception of what furniture should cost.

[@mike4898]

@@dot0verdrive I absolutely agree with you. I decided to build my own and its greatly raised my appreciation of well built wooden furniture. I didn't just build my table because I wanted a table though. I have wanted to make an involved wood working project for quite some time now. If I just wanted a table, I would never have tried to make one. I have issues where I can't just slap something together quickly. I must try hard to make it nice and try to use strong, proper joints. So far I am six weeks in the process of this table. That includes countless hours of practice and modifying my plans. For actual construction, I am at 32 hours right now and I just decided that I am replacing a board on my topper because its slightly twisted and bothering me. I dont have the proper machines to fix it so I must buy a board that is super flat off the shelf. I estimate I have 4 hours of sanding left and then its stain and finish. My final product will look pretty good for just some guy with a harbor freight miter saw and router, but it has little imperfections due to not having planers, jointers and so on. Overall, its an expensive, exhausting, involved process to make a quality table that looks nice. I saw the Wyrmwood table a little after I started my build and honestly, their pricing is insanely cheap. I don't know how they are doing it. Unless you had a pro wood working workshop already, no one can build one for cheaper out of quality hardwoods and make it look nice. The only way a normal person could really beat their price with the typical tools many people have, is a screwed together pine 2x4 and plywood table. It gets it done, but its not nice. 1-2k for a high quality table is absolutely worth it, if its your thing.

[@AdamKirbyMusic]

@@mike4898 I do woodworking as well and your experience is right on point. A person will absolutely NOT save money building an equal quality table to Wyrmwood (assuming they can even do it). Just the opposite, Wyrmwood gets their materials for cheaper than you can and spends less effort to make it. The only way you save money is making some garbage out of rough construction materials.

[@drailerplay]

Commenting on a 2 year old video, why not? I was just watching your Frosthaven review and the monolith of wood behind Daniel triggered an immediate reaction: "oh hey they have a Duchess!" I then found the review of the Jasper and from there to this review. I was a fellow backer through Kickstarter. My biggest disappointments... 1.) COLOR. It looks like for the Jasper they at least figured out what color "espresso" is. Espresso is a dark brown. It is always a dark brown. Go to any store... and if they lined up 42 browns... espresso is the color of brown that they would reserve for "the brown just before black." Mine, like yours, is basically orange. I wrote the company in advance and asked "hey, I won't hold you to exact tone, but is this y'know BROWN?" and they assured me it was. Is it? I'm less sure. It's more a color I associate with extremely cheap Sauder furniture from the 90's that everybody throws out the moment it gets wet because it swells/splits/disintegrates. 2.) TOPPERS. They are heavy and unwieldy and wind up in the background of videos. I've figured out how to put one topper across the arms of a small couch we have, throw pillows on it, and then another topper rests on the pillows and the back of the couch... becoming a completely flat surface... I then use that as a new playing surface when I need to have some extra room. (For DnD we sometimes stage the battles on the one topper, while playing in the well at the table.) However, the older I get, the less I can lift them, and they are huge. I feel like I could simultaneously break windows on two sides of my sunroom if I sneezed while moving them. 3.) CUP HOLDERS. I looked at the construction, looked at how they would be attached to the table, and stored the cup holders back in their shipping boxes. There's no way I'll ever put those on. THAT SAID - My overall table is not shaky at all, and the base boards screwed on nicely without much of a bump - and have stayed that way despite also being in a sunroom. It mostly works great, but it could look so much nicer... Anyway, you get the "nod of recognition" from me.

[@Shelfside]

holy cow big comment! Yeah I wanted to talk about the Duchess one more time before sending it off to a friend, we wanted to do some DIY! I ordered through KS, and definitely agree that they could've done the color much better bahahaha. The cupholders are super jank but I remember they blew our minds many years ago. Cheers! -Ashton

[@jwfcp]

So if the ridge is too high, but 5x3 is pretty good what dimensions are optimal?

[@BenRangel]

2:43 Oh after seeing this I really wonder why gaming tables are so popular for roleplaying games. Writing, using laptops etc is pretty core part of the roleplaying experience to me. More so than preventing anything from going over the edge.

[@Shelfside]

I think a lot of people who use it for roleplaying have some sort of topper system to write on or use laptops. Then all of the minis and dice go in the 'arena'. The game table thing may just be a cool aesthetic for most too :) -Ashton

[@tonyah.960]

L0L! Great show my KZbin friend!

[@sirjon103]

get ping pong/table tennis table u can play warhammer 4*6 feets also u can make table tennis table fit on smaller places when not needed

[@FawziBreidi]

i was hoping to get convinced to buy a board game table to be honest

[@TheManofDew]

Thanks for the video. I’ve been asking myself why do people buy gaming tables for awhile now. It seems like most people use them to keep games set up, and keep components from falling off the table. Just doesn’t seem worth it too me. I wonder if a better solution is individual player trays. 🤷‍♂️

[@jordanneedscoffee]

I don’t have one, but seems to me the poker table style fabric is a big one too. Just makes picking up cards and other things way way easier.

[@Iamwrongbut]

I think that it’s hard to value how nice it is to leave games setup - especially heavier games. Especially if you play with a spouse/roommate, having to setup and put up a game like spirit island or gloomhaven every couple of days can get laborious. But if you can just sit down and everything is ready to go, it really makes it easier to get way more gaming in.

[@stevefratus1546]

I cannot wait to build my Duchess. We don’t have our basement finished yet but when we do it will be nice to keep my games set up until I’m done playing. I often have to put games away because I’m using the dining room table to play and my family likes to eat meals there. Lol

[@Eshmatarel]

Question! I use my Game Room mainly for TTRPGs, and your notes about writing on the table were a big red flag. Do you think that these'll really only be good for boardgames? or do you have any workarounds/suggestions?

[@Shelfside]

So there's the option to just use the toppers (or just one of them to cover half the table) if you're playing games that require a lot of writing or just need flat space (think dexterity games like Disc Duelers). If you really want to use the inside arena for the dice/pieces, clipboards will work pretty well.

[@matthewwatson56]

Take a look at Wyrmwood's current KS for their Modular Gaming Table. Their Accessories can fix any problem you might think of!

[@warrendavis9262]

Ever thought of doing a video of a DIY table? (That's the last purpose built game table *I* played on...)

[@Shelfside]

that will be a really fun project to tackle one day for sure, I really want to do it!

[@The-Eric-Cartman]

Something like that would definitely work as a dining table in our house, considering we currently use a cheap folding table

[@Shelfside]

Cartman!!!!?? Did Cesar Milan reform you enough so that you're looking for furniture in the house? Ahaha, yeah this table is probably a leg up on folding tables for sure, with the nice wood and all -Ashton

[@The-Eric-Cartman]

@@Shelfside Cesar will end up in a bowl of chili for the way he treated me like a dog and disrespected my authoritah!! Lol, nah. We just had to downsize when moving to Japan (military) so our decent furniture is in storage back in the states. This gaming table might make a suitable stand-in (I could probably make room for it) though I’m not sure they could be shipped here unless they can send to an FPO address

[@Shelfside]

@@The-Eric-Cartman ahaha hope your mom isn't giving you too much trouble cartman! You might have to pay through your nose for shipping overseas to Japan, and wait foreeeever. Hope it works out! -Ashton

[@derbuhn]

I was really pleased with the first 18 sec... wanted to switch to another.. but there are 7 more minutes :D

[@Shelfside]

you still don't need a table though... right? x) -Ashton

[@ALadybugDreamsOfAFarm]

I bought a big picture frame with cracked glass from the thrift store for 8€, then got some felt for 5€ put the felt inside the frame without the glass. Voilà. Portable gaming surface. Edit: For storing I just tuck it behind a bookshelf. Also the grooves of the frame make for really good holders for cards that everyone can see.

[@Shelfside]

haha awesome! thanks for sharing -Ashton

[@imilegofreak]

My gaming table is a really nice dinner table with a 3'x3' xwing playmat ;)

[@Shelfside]

sounds sweet, my friend does something similar for infinity :D -Ashton

[@FollowRevolutionNine]

Do you recommend any other higher end gaming tables? Or maybe any blueprints if we're adventurous enough to make our own?

[@Shelfside]

we haven't personally tried any other gaming tables besides the jasper (sequel to this), so hard to say much there. We do have a DIY table vid actually coming up later this week! It isn't that expensive to make your own if you have the tools, but you will need some woodworking experience. Let me know if you have more questions! -Ashton

[@Hoizl]

Where can i find a mat like that? Can you suggest a product that is alike your mat?

[@LordThree]

I had a red pool table for $200 in 2008 that worked fine

[@MarianoAgusti]

Hi ! Shelfside! Where have u bought the playmat ?

[@Shelfside]

hey! I got it from boardgametables!

[@BobBallVO]

If you want to upgrade that play mat (famous paintings, fun backgrounds, etc) try DeepCutStudio.com. I have sent in several custom mats, and they have turned out fantastic. (I have only done the custom mats however.)

[@coltonclark6635]

If you have access to the tools to do so, make your own. It's only around 2-300 for the materials, and it'll be way higher quality than any of the ones out there to but under $1000 (which is a massive rip off).

[@Shelfside]

We actually have a video doing just that! "Building a Board Gaming Table" -Daniel

[@omaralami1706]

Would it be worth it to buy a large mat like the one in your table and put that on a dinner table for when playing games?

[@Shelfside]

The tricky part is getting the sizing right, so you may have to get one custom for your table. I don't know how much they cost though so can't speak for value. It will move around a little on the table as players move pieces and accidentally push/pull the mat so just keep that in mind for bigger/delicate games.

[@Teremei]

Yours is called the dutchess but right now they sell the jasper. I really don't like the grey. Do you know where I can get a nice red play mat like yours?

[@Shelfside]

Boardgametables is selling new playmats just by themselves on kickstarter! They look to be improved over my version, which is pretty exciting. www.kickstarter.com/projects/1296268806/playmats-and-bags-for-board-games?ref=ksr_email_user_new_project_from_creator_youve_backed

[@Teremei]

@@Shelfside yeah I saw that. I can also go to big Viking mats which has 4 different colors. But I think I'm going to end up buying mats from wyrmwood's table campaign. They have add on felt mats you can just buy those separately. I think I might like felt better because you literally can't hear your dice roll on neoprene. I like that sound baby!!

[@VampguyN85]

And here boardgame geek just recommended a 2k gaming table this week 😀.

[@MyFunnyVids888]

I got my table from boardgametables.com to get the cupholders and extra playmats its 1056 that's including tax and shipping. They have pretty high quality tables so I recommend it. It did help get my family to play more games since it's way more comfortable to sit at than the crappy table we have upstairs

[@Shelfside]

nice! Yeah having a comfortable table makes a huge difference. Do you guys end up using the extra playmats often? I barely even flip mine over hahaha. -Ashton

[@MyFunnyVids888]

@@Shelfside I don't change them too often but it is nice to have a change of color once in a while especially when the boards for some games might be the same color as one of the mats

[@andraslibal]

The answer is yes. The answer is totally yes. I have a 123 cm x 200 cm table because I am a European and we measure things in cm, and we like beauty and golden ratios and it has a 3.5" margin and inside the sunken surface at 1" depth is 4'x6' in size because freedom units, and because I am a Bolt Action player, and because everything fits on a 4'x6' including my play mats (your Burgundy mat looks cool I have some different two-sided mats with terrain, but one is fairly dark so it works with everything and I plan on getting a space and a desert themed as well, 4x6 mats come in all variety). It is also at bar table height around 3' because that we we can sit around on bar stools but also get up and walk around if we feel like it. It also kinda blew my friends mind and we have a lot more games since ... weekly once so far for which I am thankful. Whoo hoo. It also stores up next to the wall nicely when I don't play, and can be mounted and dismounted but it is heavy so I need one person to help with setup it just mounts on top of a narrow table that is 200x60cm. But the whole custom made setup for my room works well and I am happy with it.

[@Shelfside]

Wow that's awesome that you guys are playing more because of the table! I think having about a 1 inch depth is a better compromise, what I have here in this video can be a little too deep at times. A good piece of furniture does just make everyday life better :D -Ashton

[@mathieuanglehart2671]

Where can i find a table like that?

[@adamdenzinger576]

Fireball island!!!

[@PointTakenAway]

If I ever see a gaming mat, I'd just buy that. Put it over my table when gaming.

[@petrstastny5130]

Try to look here - www.deepcutstudio.com/ I have custom one from them, that has been made for exact size of my DIY gaming table valut. And I am pretty happy with their work.

[@JonathanBates]

www.kickstarter.com/projects/1296268806/playmats-and-bags-for-board-games?ref=5trhcn&__s=eeof4gs8nn4u5slq0j09 BoardGameTables is actually kickstarting a 3x5 or 3.5-5.5 mat now.

[@Melissa-ps9ly]

Ok ok I really don’t need to buy a game table. Thanks!! Lol

[@asierbouzas2679]

Is it possible to buy that surface? I think it's the best part

[@Shelfside]

yep! This looks like a newer version of the thing mentioned in the video, by the same company. www.boardgametables.com/products/board-game-playmat

[@sindex]

Fireball Island flex.

[@crisrody852]

If you really want a gaming table, do it yourself! Seriously, every single thing I bought made with wood for gaming hobbies was shit. Quality control is really a big issue. I've got shity things even from the biggest companies, with those perfect adds and glass shiny surfaces.

[@jobu88]

A ping-pong table makes a great affordable option and it folds in half for easy storage when not in use

[@Shelfside]

Honestly any cheap table with a neoprene mat covering the whole thing is better than most normal tables, and is probably what I'd do if we didn't have board gaming tables lol -Daniel

[@Dezfafara88]

im sure i need it and thats before the video

[@boristuga]

Super-cheap budget alternative and what I'm going to do today actually: Get a "carpet-anti-slip-cloth", IKEA has a sticky material for $9 that is kind of like felt, fold it double length-wise (will work for a table that is 80x235 cm = 2.6" x 7.7") . www.ikea.com/se/sv/p/stopp-filt-mattfilt-med-halkskydd-90132261/ Get a "faux-velvet" fabric that covers the whole table (at this time of year I saw christmas curtains over 8 feet long for under $40 and well wide enough, no metal hangers or stuff like that) Get a couple of dice-trays to make up for the missing rail round the table. Done. I actually made an insert for my "BJURSTA" IKEA-table that is with foam-padding and padded edges that resides underneath the main topper, giving it a "vault" and also made a couple of armrests to soften the main supporting frame a bit when leaning on it. It does not work with larger games though, hence the additional DIY budget solution above for larger games.

[@anonymousmc7727]

You should call it a pocketless pool table😂