How's the Origins Game Table?

We take a deep look into the Origins Game Table from Game Theory Tables! This Vaulted playing surface board game table is completely decked out in this video, with wooden ash accessories and even USB chargers. We here at Shelfside have reviewed board gaming tables from the Jasper to the Duchess, and the Megan from Geeknson, and have even made our own tables via DIY! After playing multiple board games like Twilight Imperium 4 and Brass Birmingham on the Origins, how does it hold up? In fact it has a wide rail and some weird assembly hiccups that could cause issues.
Use our code ‘SHELFSIDE’ at checkout for a free custom play surface (worth $200): bbopokertables.idevaffiliate....
Table of Contents:
Intro - (0:00)
Assembly - (1:09)
Things We Like - (3:48)
Concerns - (8:21)
Ashton’s Personal Thoughts - (15:02)
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Stuff Used:
The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Monkeys Spinning Monkeys by Kevin McLeod
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/4071-monkey...
Music: Investigations by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/3924-invest...
Music: Sneaky Snitch by Kevin MacLeod
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/4384-sneaky...
Music: After War by MusicLFiles
Free download: filmmusic.io/song/6290-after-war
License (CC BY 4.0): filmmusic.io/standard-license
Sport Trap Blues Rock by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / Getting Hot
• Sport Trap Blues Rock ...
Upbeat Dance Funk Pop by Infraction [No Copyright Music] / The Disc
• Upbeat Dance Funk Pop ...
#boardgames #tabletop #tabletopgames

[@somefishhere]

I like how your friends all have different board game tables. It adds an element of "Whose house are we going to play at?" optimization for table size. Smaller table for an intimate 2-player duel, the Origins for TI4.

[@ODAVR]

Makes me glad I purchased a walnut wyrmwood modular game table. Similar price, better wood, better fit and finish, and really nice to look at!

[@liamcage7208]

For the price of a premium table that topper should fit perfectly with no slack or play once its put down.

[@smokinjoe43]

I have the first version of this table, and my gaming group and I love it. I've never noticed the leaning on the rails problem you've mentioned, but that might be because I've never played at another gaming table regularly before this one. I agree with most of your assessment of the accessories, which is why I didn't buy most of them. However, the play area dividers are pretty amazing. They butt right up to the topper to divide the game well off so you can make it a smaller area for when you're playing smaller games and don't want to take the whole topper off. It also works well playing multiple smaller games on the same table at the same time. All in all I'm glad I got this table, because it's led to me playing more games than I would have otherwise since I didn't have a good place to play anything before.

[@Shelfside]

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, the play area dividers are the accessory I would buy. Also, Daniel told me he had 0 problem with the table rails haha. Many different postures we have here -Ashton

[@WoodyTrombone]

I also have the V1 Origins. I find the cupholders to be kind of obnoxiously loud since they reverberate the sound within the hollow construction. A local boardgame cafe fixed this by putting velcro strips around the metal holders and around the hole to hold the cupholders in place and dampen the sound they make. Cool little DIY hack. I also share your forearm resting concern - you're not crazy, Ashton! Looking forward to any DIY fix you come up with. Also, glad they're shipping these with replacement paint - the finish comes off pretty easily when scratched. Mine didn't come with any - I'll have to hit them up and try to get some shipped out.

[@anthonyuccello1458]

I have a boardgame table but I watch all your videos because you do such a good job every time!

[@Shelfside]

haha cheers man! Lots of reviews on the way :) -Ashton

[@EightFoldOni]

looks great but won't lie no spill resistant foam on the topper is an instant no buy for me. Ty for the review :)

[@lyg]

I think you're right, a pretty looking board gaming table like this would attract more people to play board games for sure.

[@crosscutgames]

I've had mine for over a year now, played zoodles of games on it and have nearly zero complaints. Yes, the topper is heavy, but I muscle it in often as my wife uses the toppered table for crafts. The topper pieces are chipping/wearing pretty quickly, but only noticeable in the connecting areas. The trays - yes, they can hurt if you lean on them a lot. But I haven't really minded and nobody else has complained. Over all, it is a luxury item to have a gaming table at all and this one I do love! It is my first one and perhaps my final one to own.

[@Theboardbro]

Such a great review!!

[@dcfcdunk]

Appreciate this. Been looking at these for a while - this is now confirmed 100% not the gaming solution for my circumstances - the search continues.

[@BoardGames3000]

I love that the concerns you have discovered about the table (mostly the weird corner blocks and how the rail bins would bother my forearms) are exactly why end up not purchasing an origins table. You definitely pointed out some things that I had not realized. One you won’t be able to use the cup holder when the toppers are on. That seems like a big miss. Two I didn’t realize the rail bin mats didn’t actually fill up the whole void I thought that was actually their purpose and help with forearm pain. 😂 I think the privacy shields are meant to go in the rail next to you, in between two players so they can look over and see your stuff… but again it’s only gonna block sight from a certain angle.

[@Shelfside]

Haha cheers man! Yeah I do miss my cupholders for when the topper is on, my older table had the accessory rail that definitely grew on me. We tried using the privacy shields for the rail in between players, but that had even less utility ahahaha. -Ashton

[@jorischkovich]

For 3500 you'd expect everything to be perfect

[@justacynic]

EXACTLY.

[@NXProductions716]

@@justacynicby comparison though my Wyrmwood table was over 12k. So 3.5k isn’t bad at all.

[@justacynic]

@@NXProductions716 But did/do you have complaints about your table?

[@bushibayushi]

excellent, thorough review

[@Shelfside]

thank you! -Ashton

[@harmarize]

Ive had this table for a year now. I really dont care for it, and wish I would have paid more for something else. I got all sorts of chips onit. The topper slides like CRAZY. I even put some rubber stuff on it to help with the sliding, and it helps a lot,but still slides. It frankly pretty big andugly. Fine for a gaming room, but would never ever replace my dining table with it. I do actually like the vault depth , the built in cup holders, and the chit area.

[@ViralMaze]

You can probably wrap the male connection of the edge caps in a rubber or foam gasket. Use some glue maybe. It can help it move around less, make less noise if it does move, and still allow for variability in the wood as it expands and contracts. Sucks you have to diy something like that for something priced so premium though. Good review though!

[@justacynic]

I backed the first iteration of Origins and have huge regrets about it. Looking forward to seeing what you say. EDIT: Can already see it was packaged better so that was improved at least. Another improvement-maybe?-is this magnetic system you mention but don’t really highlight. V1 had *nothing* preventing the two middle topper panels from sliding in either direction. The finish chips so so easily and there was no paint included. In addition, for advertising itself as a stained wood product, the stain is more like paint. V1 also had divider accessories for having two ongoing games. However, the height of the divider exceeded the table edges, meaning you can not put the topper on when the divider is there. Finally, the cup holders are not recessed, so the topper is not flush unless you remove the cup holders. There’s a bench/topper storage thing that doesn’t function as promised (which I notice was not sent to you), and the neoprene table mat was supposed to fit in the hollow table leg-which, of course, does not work. Part of my heightened criticism is that I bought to *both* be a gaming table *and* to replace the old dining room table I had. But v2 still looks to have plenty of the problems v1 had.

[@DementedDistraction]

Maybe line the sockets of those corner caps with 3m foam tape - it'll help them fit more snugly while accommodating thermal expansion, and if it doesn't sure up the connection all the way it'll still help mitigate the clanking and clacking when they shift. Also, the paint chipping away on that pole tells me they didn't prime the wood before they painted it, that gives me concern for the rest of the table and how well the paint will hold up over time.

[@Shelfside]

Thanks for sharing man! Yeah will have to add some foam tape then :) -Ashton

[@drewbronson8804]

I'd be going to the office supply section of the store and picking up a pack of large rubber bands and wrapping those leg caps and cup holders to see if you can fix the rattles

[@Nominrath]

My wife got me this table, full load out (all the accessories you have in this video). I love the table. I’ve found that the toppers aren’t that difficult to deal with by myself. But all the other accessories are indeed kind of meh. (Don’t tell my wife that! 😂) I cannot, for the life of me figure out what or how the privacy shelf works or would be useful, the dice tower is only a’ight but super loud, the card holders, while they fit in the individual player slots, are too short and, like you said, too vertical. The privacy screens are actually meant to go between players, not in front of players, but that’s still a little meh as they will get bumped and knocked over. The tiered tray is ok, but I see it more useful for GMs or “banker” type players who are in charge of a game’s components. But the trays are also so big that the rod that supports it is prone to breaking. (Mine has already broke… Twice.) Personally, the table, by itself with the toppers is great. Even the USBs are good. I get use out of them for Mansions of Madness and Journeys in Middle-earth and bluetooth speakers. But the “gaming” accessories are not worth the price. You can find much better accessories for a much lower price elsewhere.

[@margaritoamargo6347]

The old man was doing all the heavy lifting on that!

[@eriksjogren800]

Thanks u for the video

[@Shelfside]

No problem! More wood-related videos coming! -Ashton

[@GameBrigade]

I'm so glad I sold my origins. Worst table I ever owned.

[@diemenjav]

What did you get to replace it?

[@GameBrigade]

@@diemenjav I ordered a rathskeller on game found awhile ago, but it hasn't arrived. In the meantime I was sent a table from Dragons & Geeks for a review which I used to replace my origins. I have a review of both the origins (I can't recommend the origins table) and the dragon and geek (great table under $1000.) Hope that helps.

[@justacynic]

I remember your review and agreeing with it all. Buyer’s remorse. Better to have spent more on a better quality product.

[@TheRealJP777]

I'm glad you listed the prices up front, so I can know not to spend more time looking at these tables. It's Wayyy, and I mean waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay out of my price range. Who the heck can afford that?!?

[@Shelfside]

haha, yep they're mad expensive. There's some cheaper options, but honestly you don't really need a board game table! Just play on whatever works :) -AShton

[@EelcoWind]

One of the biggest concerns I'd have is that it looks like it belongs in a 70s/80s style single guy's house... It's bulky, dark wood, with 45' chamfers. I can't imagine any it looking well in any residential room that has not been designed for games. It would look good in a game store, as you mentioned, as such a space can be designed around the table. Chargers are ugly and badly placed as well (your knee remark hits the spot), and where do I put my tablet / laptop I use for D&D? Or my character sheet on which I write if I play analog? Writing on paper on a neoprene surface is not ideal. A nice plus that you didn't mention: I like the continues grain from topper to topper though, that's good eye for detail from the craftsman. Too bad all the wonky connections and loose caps take away that appreciation for said craftsmanship.

[@itsMARTIKAI]

So glad I kickstartered this table looks amazing. Feels more like a hardcore gamers table rather than a casual gamers.

[@successfulgeek]

I would have bought this table in their first KS but they didn't offer it at counter heigh, and I don't have enough room in my house for a dedicated gaming table so it would have had to replace my dining room table which is currently counter height so our chairs are for that and I didn't want to have to spend another $1500 on chairs just to make the table work. I have friends that got this table and they are happy with it. I agree it is a good table but not amazing or anything.

[@successfulgeek]

I will say I picked up a GameTopper instead and very happy with it. It also isn't perfect but it was a lot cheaper and I can put it on top of my existing table, or my coffee table depending on where I want to play, and I got the leg kit for when I want a surface in my office.

[@Shelfside]

@@successfulgeek Awesome man! Yeah I was thinking of getting a gametopper at some point but just have too many tables ahahah -Ashton

[@Jaayjeee]

Your friend saw a table and..... "Wanted photos with it" ???

[@Shelfside]

haha, yep.

[@MrB711]

Too expensive. I also don't like how deep the table is, much prefer a 1 or 2-inch raise. Bad ergonomics with the slouching it'll cause

[@pachu69perro]

For that price I spect free assemble

[@justacynic]

White glove delivery was offered with the v1 campaign. And based on experience and anecdotes, probably 75-80% of people that paid for it didn’t get it. I got a refund for that at least.

[@benchristensen1526]

That phone??

[@flamepulse42]

why does it look plastic?

[@flamepulse42]

for that price ill by a wyrmwood moduler, much better product and value

[@EnzoTehBaker]

That is definitely oak with a dark stain.

[@BrotherMingGames]

but FREE SHIPPING THO

[@Shelfside]

FREE!!! -Ashton

[@Boss-zo4lw]

Too pricey for too many faults etc, i wouldnt be happy if i brought this one.

[@wrath231]

3200$ for a gaming table? Hell no,

[@johannesstal270]

I don’t know what they thought when they designed that a rail that cant be leaned on especially when the vault is that deep you will want to lean on the rail to reach into. Also subjective but this is just not a very good looking table. Seems like its designed by someone who have little to no experience in furniture design. Not what I expect to get for 3500 dollars. Now I understand that making things functional will compete with it looking good ….. but this is neither.

[@MAX_PRO777]

A lot of money (((

[@okdanhe]

not worth the money

[@Brammage]

So for turning it over….next time put two legs on then stand it up and put the other two legs on that way. Made me cringe watching you try to flip it over putting all that pressure on one leg

[@PacoPR28]

I think is way overpriced.