The Dresden Board game Table Review - From Bandpass Design

[@PRC533]

I have had a Dresdin XL for about a year now and I can say that it is without a doubt the best investment I've made in the hobby. That said, I remember first seeing Geek Chic tables over a decade ago and knowing I wasn't going to afford one for quite some time. Mine replaced our dining room table entirely and on it's own it is a fantastic table. The gaming vault is obviously the main point of the product, but the reason I went with Bandpass rather than the other available options is that the Dresdin was the only one I felt was designed equally as a piece of modern furniture as well as a gaming table. It's true that if $3000 makes someone balk, then they aren't actually in the market for a gaming table because I can't imagine many that are even that low. All I can say is that I am supremely happy that I have one and it actually increased our play rate of games once we got it.

[@MaruMaruMaruMaruMaruMaru]

How much does that same table sell for now?

[@Faxmachine15]

I was actively looking for a table, but was turned off by the high prices. I ended up late pledging the game topper 3.5 a few days ago, that I’ll getting in a few weeks. It really seems like a nice solution with good critics so far, great built quality etc.

[@BoardGameCo]

Glad you found something :)

[@directassault1662]

I’m Bandpass Design’s first customer. One thing I love about this table is that the things that are normally external attachments for other tables are built into the table. The problem with external attachments is that they get knocked around and eventually broken off. I wish Alex had gotten a wide shot of the table including the legs. This is a solid piece of quality furniture that will be in my family for generations to come.

[@BoardGameCo]

It's definitely a great table, and while I haven't had any issues with other tables and attachments breaking, I do think that attachments are overrated. You have to store them and half the time you don't bother pulling them out or at least I don't.

[@directassault1662]

@@BoardGameCo attachment replacement was a pain for Geek Chic

[@bryanwinston8820]

I'd have gotten one of these but the price point for what you get and the delivery time was high. Especially because the topper was almost the same cost as the table, I just thought that was crazy. I was able to get a wood working guy to come in and custom build a game table in my house for half the price. Custom steel frame and real pecan wood.

[@BoardGameCo]

Nice, glad you had an option work out for you.

[@gingerscholar152]

The Prophecy Game Table from Wyrmwood Gaming is probably the only game table I've seen where you can turn a wheel to adjust vault depth, but that feature does exist

[@MichaelAW17]

Is it worth it tho? Ive seen it and it seems like a gimmick.

[@MamaBee-SunriseGalaxia]

NO@@MichaelAW17

[@nickdejager8873]

I recently ordered a Bristol from Geeknson. I'll get it in March/April next year. It would have been cheaper, if not for the extras and matching seating. Though the shipping would have made it close. Maybe I'll try to do a review when I get it. It doesn't have the vaults, but it has divot, cup holders, and a card ledge. Mine is also a dining replacement, so I have the toppers.

[@BoardGameCo]

Very interested in those too

[@maxf.7262]

Ty for this Video!

[@BoardGameCo]

Absolutely:)

[@meeple4hire103]

Is yours bamboo? Has it held up to scuffs and scratches? Any areas the lamination is having issues? Details on whether standard chairs work or do you need extra padded chairs? Do your knees hit the sunken area? If you use this as a regular table, does crud build up in the card holder area? What room dimensions allow for comfortable walk around area if there are folks seated and someone gets up for a snack, etc.? Is the depth capable of handling Cthulhu Wars?

[@directassault1662]

I can answer that. The top and the vault are bamboo while the sides and legs are your choice (I have the default of walnut). Bamboo was used because of its resiliency and it actually looks really cool with the multiple layers in different directions. Normal chairs work fine. I use Walnut Afton chairs from Room and Board with mine. Bandpass has a channel on their discord called “will it fit” with pics of various large games. The table comes in at least three different sizes.

[@directassault1662]

An when you say “lamination”…. To be clear, this is a solid wood table. Solid walnut (or whatever you choose) with 3-layer solid bamboo for the playing surface. The reason the dining tops cost what they do is because they are solid pieces of wood.

[@meeple4hire103]

@@directassault1662 -- re lamination: lamination of the bamboo. There seems to be varying quality of bamboo lamination, so was just curious if the bamboo on this table holds up well.

[@directassault1662]

@@meeple4hire103 ah, well I’ve had mine for I think 4 years now and no signs of any issues there

[@eriklindqvist9923]

I'm $1150 out on the Kingmaker table kickstarter (not payed shipping yet) that got messed up by the situation in Ukraine where it was to be made. The team is safe from what I understand in the updates, which most important. My table can wait, but it would help my campaign gaming for sure.

[@madisenmus2135]

Which table do you prefer the Dresden or the Radcliffe?

[@BoardGameCo]

The Radcliffe but it's also twice the price :)

[@mejeg]

The biggest issue I have about board game tables is I live in the UK. Effectively when an American says "My house is small, only 170m2" people in the UK are like "dude that's massive".

[@jessemoore7643]

Thanks for this. Watching this and other reviews helped me decide what table to get! I also would like to pitch a strange idea to you. Would you be open to reaching out to your community, have them video review their tables, then post them on your channel as a "table review" series? Something like that would be incredibly helpful in this space.

[@oongowa]

What is the size of your table? It looks square and not rectangular. I ordered the regular Dresden a couple months ago. Hopefully it'll be delivered in a couple more months. I'm a carpenter and am making the top myself. Saved me $2000.

[@EfrainRiveraJunior]

Even my GameTopper ended up costing me over $1,000 after taxes and shipping.

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, while this is a cheaper hobby than many, that doesn't mean it's cheap.

[@JohnHoliver]

Why you are doing this review and not Devon? He is the one that talks about tables

[@BoardGameCo]

That's a fair point, let's bring him into the discussion.

[@iansutton7416]

It certainly makes me uncomfortable when these companies send a $3500 product to a reviewer to keep and I agree with your pointing the difference out between the scale of that vs. a $50 retail game or even a $500 all-in crowdfunding game. If you want to see what 'really uncomfortable' looks like, dig out the video by Efka of NPI on a game table he received. It was clear he really felt deeply uneasy about the situation. Be upfront / clear that it was supplied for free, and viewers can make their own mind up about how much a $3500 gift might influence what is said: from a $3500 advert, all the way to simply a review copy being supplied.

[@TheTerminatorOwns]

Pretty sure he paid for it XD. Like he did with the uniquely geek one

[@iansutton7416]

@@TheTerminatorOwns If so, it would be equally useful/important to clarify that.

[@MrGainify]

Bandpass sent out tables to a lot of KZbinrs for free.

[@BoardGameCo]

This one, unlike my other tables, was not paid for. I included that in the description, I should have said so in the video as well, I didn't think to until after.

[@iansutton7416]

@@BoardGameCo thanks for the clarification.

[@sethwinslow]

Thanks. I’ve been theoretically in the market for a table for a while, but always balk because of the price. I doubt I’ll get one anytime soon. That said, apart of me feels that this kind of review is actually a “(not) first impressions” rather than an actual “review” because of the lack of comparison points, specifically to non-premium tables. Think abut how you rate games, and sometimes decide to purge them from your collection. “This is a really excellent game, but I’d rather play this instead.” To your credit, you are very clear about your lack of experience with other tables besides the two premium ones you have (and coffee table). So you are not overselling this in any way, shape, or form. I’m just quibbling about the title. :)

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, sadly unlike games my ability to compare thousands of these is.... harder.

[@sethwinslow]

@@BoardGameCo yes, well, if I may be so bold as to offer a solution, you can buy me a budget table, and come visit to try out out. That would be better for you than buying a third table (they don’t fit in a Kallax). Of course, having a table would mean that your eventual review would be too late to help me figure out which table is best for me. But that is a sacrifice I’m willing to make to help support your channel. :D

[@bryanwinston8820]

Wondering where that like came from? "A magical hinge" just took me out.

[@BoardGameCo]

:)

[@andrewlee8796]

Does Devon know your reviewing tables?

[@BoardGameCo]

Don't tell him :)

[@reznor_59]

Sounds like you want a wyrmwood prophecy. I’m debating upgrading my modular table down payment for a prophecy because of GenCon… Oops… you just mentioned them…

[@dennisdonetti1675]

I appreciate the awkwardness of pushing a$3500 item on someone but know that the opinions for a person interested in a table are valuable. The price point makes it much more important to have trusted opinions.

[@itsGabrielaCristina]

It looks beautiful. I’m sure it’s worth it, but I went to customize one and it ends up being $6,595. 🫣 I wish I had that kind of money 😂

[@BoardGameCo]

Yep, totally reasonable. It can be expensive