How To Build A Digital D&D Table - Gaming Gear DIY

If you've got about $120 and a free weekend, you too can have a pretty solid digital RPG table for displaying some amazing virtual live gaming maps.

[@CoderJK]

This was exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for going over all the necessary details to keep the project manageable!

[@Allen-Marshall]

Love this! such a good idea. This brings the online DND back in person without having to drop so much money on all the boards and game pieces.

[@matthewwolf1216]

This is brilliant, can't wait to start on this project.

[@CrewFroebel]

great production quality on this vid and very informative! thanks

[@HowToRollDice]

Thanks so much. Glad you liked it.

[@Delubbe]

Awesome video. Got an old 2010 32 inch sitting in the garage. Gonna see if chromecast works on it and get building. Thank you sir!

[@subcountzero9421]

Awesome video, the idea of setting up a tv like this is so cool!!!

[@wadeelphinstone4078]

very informative and LOVE the background music

[@docjohnson999]

You can also get a cheap hdmi-extender-cable-plug and cut out some room on the side, and fix it permanently, so you always have an extra connection possibility. And also, if you want to have more than one sound out put. Spotify, sound table, live wall papers, youtube etc. all at the same time. Plus, if you dont have wifi it easy to connect a lap top.

[@RIVERSRPGChannel]

Very cool Thanks for sharing

[@cringeking9441]

This and the Card Wars game getting developed rn would be an amazing combo

[@musicvillian3968]

Where did you get them map from? It looks so good and I cant find any good ones.

[@ddeboy002]

don't forget air flow for overheating.

[@HowToRollDice]

I didn't do a great job of showing the back, but there are two large openings that are raised from the table, so plenty of air flow. Plus it'll likely only be on for 3-4 hours at a time.

[@Think666_]

Just waiting for one of the party to roll their stone dice with great enthusiasm across the face...

[@HowToRollDice]

Haha. Two things will help prevent that. 1) there is still about 1 foot of open felted gaming table top around the screen, so plent of room for sheets and rolling. 2) I wouldn't even be able to draw my arm back before someone else in the group smacked them in the ear.

[@tonydiazist]

Also I'm not sure if it's called a jointer jig but i think you meant pocket hole jig. That's a more advanced technic of wood working but a great idea !

[@HowToRollDice]

Oh I'm sure I had the name wrong. Just got a jig saw and a reciprocating saw for Christmas, so my tool arsenal continues to grow, and eventually I'll be able to make some nice proper joints. I love hand finished (chisel or saw) artisan joints, but I feel like lots of those require a table saw and router to be practical time wise.

[@blazenkks9491]

Hi great Vid been really thinking about doing this. Um Do you have Links for the KZbin channels that have maps to Cast onto the screen?

[@HowToRollDice]

Sure thing friend. Check out this Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLVnTSw5P3q5zOYsMc2KxpkKDmlDDy_sfG

[@tonydiazist]

Could you do a tutorial maybe on how to scale maps to the adequate size based on the TV size? I haven't tried this but want to build one for a friend and wanted to learn more about how to scale the virtual maps to the tv. My concern is that the tiles won't be one inch but smaller/bigger depending the size of the tv and aspect ratios etc. Also what tools or websites would you recommend to run maps?? Edit: haha guess i got ahead of myself you eventually got to it and that helps

[@HowToRollDice]

If you still have questions I'd be happy to come back to this. Actually just used it Saturday to play some make shift D&D with my 3 year old son.

[@tonydiazist]

@@HowToRollDice i would love to learn how you use it. My solution was to plug it in to a computer and run the maps through owlbear which is a browser based interface and load the maps into it to display on the tv any tips would be awesome

[@MegaWimberly]

​@@HowToRollDice I would

[@FlexDRG]

To get a correct grid, you'd need to figure out the DPI of the screen used. And use that to draw the lines on the digital map. The map doesn't need to have a higher resolution than the screen (so 1920x1080 for a regular FHD screen).

[@playitbyear5312]

I have considered building an entire table for my campaign, but I really don’t have the space to dedicate an entire room to dungeons and dragons so this idea is absolutely perfect for my situation. May I ask though what program you’re using to build / display your maps? Thanks so much for this video, I’ll be embarking on this sort of project in next week or so.

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

If you play a lot, it is worth getting a 4K TV if you can afford it. 1080 up close (where people sit) doesn't look great. A refurbished one is about $315 Canadian. I would recommend a TCL, since they are quite solid and inexpensive. We play using Roll20. I have a player using their laptop and HDMI to the TV while connecting to Roll20, and I DM on my laptop.

[@playitbyear5312]

@@SamIAm-kz4hg I actually have a 50” TCL 4k at the ready that would be perfect for this project. Thanks so much for confirming my thought on this! I ordered some decorative hardware and whatnot and have my project lined up for this weekend.

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

@@playitbyear5312 You might want to check out Dynamic Dungeons. They make animated maps specifically for either 40" or 50" TVs with or without grid overlay. These are sized to give you 1" squares on those TVs. Their maps also come as still images, and most are available in 4K. Good luck on your project.

[@gowther9884]

What Table top are you using to get the map so lined up with the screen i been struggling with this.

[@tomekhekin914]

Most of my minis have magnets. I assume it will destroy LCD screen.

[@gentlemansbusa2985]

I might not have got there in the video but where do you get these maps?

[@blanebellerud5811]

Hmm, lots of old LCD computer monitors at goodwill for cheap. Smaller, but with this setup you could do a rolling map

[@glencabbage52]

This is great, but what SOFTWARE are you running to create your maps? I've been using Inkarnate on the 32" table/screen I created, but I don't find it to be very practical. What are you using?

[@Tgauchsin]

I use arkenforge for this exact setup. Works beautifully

[@ivantek81]

Plasma tvs have to stay vertical, please don't turn one on it's back

[@Little_gaming_ghost]

I think this comment needs to be pined

[@kimoh7067]

id would be so nice to see something like the back of it :D

[@dennisinalaska9206]

what did you do to frame for ventilation?

[@TheFlapper666]

Is there a risk the tv can overheat when its closed like this?

[@jeppie273]

may i recommend arkenforge that has is designed for specific this type of play

[@dennisinalaska9206]

Did you cut hole for remote to work?

[@gregorybird7066]

What software do you use to display maps. As a GM I would want a "fog of war" which I can remove as a map is explored

[@bobfred-mo5sz]

Owlbear Rodeo is my favourite its easy to use

[@ShadowCreep]

my question is what software do you use for the maps?

[@FlexDRG]

It sounded like he's just using "static" maps. So no fog of war / dynamic lightning etc like you would get using a VTT.

[@fred_derf]

2x4's are 1.5" x 3.5".

[@kaygerry]

Just use a projector and mirror setup

[@bulletprooftrans]

Where do you get the maps?

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

He is playing from KZbin. Some are available.

[@FpProdPresents]

I didn't think TV's could be laid on their backs like that. I thought the weight of the screen would sag in the middle and crack?

[@brianc313313]

I have heard that too and was looking through the comments to see if someone had answered it. It may just be for transport though which is the warning I remember.

[@SamIAm-kz4hg]

Buy a TCL, they are very solid.

[@Calendyr]

Your design has no ventillation. All the heat from the TV is trapped in the box. A friend of mine made a design much more open than what you did and did not use any active ventillation like I suggested he did... his TV died after 3 gaming sessions. TVs are not designed to be operated lying down, and they are designed to exaust heat from the top. When you lay it down, the heat has nowhere to go so the TV overheats.

[@Tiger_growing_up]

Also it's not a touchscreen wtf

[@CODsnakes]

This sort of set up is very common, I cannot speak to the overheating you mentioned by my 8 year old 55" tv has been working for over a year laying down and being played on just fine.

[@ddeboy002]

music is super annoying.

[@HowToRollDice]

Ya I get that a lot. If only everyone owned the exact same headphones sound mixing would be much easier.

[@TheUrbanRegret]

Sound mixing is hard, I didn't notice the music at all.

[@Anonymoose0523]

Where the fuck is he getting 2x4x8s for $2-4 🤥

[@fred_derf]

Home Depot, $3.25. (8' stud, nominal so it's actually only 92 1/4").