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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: white knight on June 04, 2022, 08:37:00 PM
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I’m finally in a place where I can get some tables for gaming/display and would like some suggestions on what sizes to go for.
The idea is to have 2 or 3 skirmish tables (preferably rectangular instead of square) that can be put together for a bigger table for larger armies.
What I’m not sure about is the best size of those tables.
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Simplest to say would be 4' x 4' (or 120cm x 120cm) but it depends how you plan to do the terrain, fixed, mats/cloth or terrain boards and so on, and if you want to put any components beside the gaming area.
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Well that could depend on the rules your are using? :D
2 or 3 skirmish tables (preferably rectangular instead of square) that can be put together for a bigger table for larger armies.
That's a part of the answer. Then it would mainly depend on the boards you put on the tables? You can always put thick cardboard on the tables, with terrain cloth on it; or large terrain tiles if you intend to make some. So the real question is not the tables themselves but what will go on them.
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Probably leaning towards terrain tiles, but mats/cloths are not out of the question. I have a very diversified collection so it would not be for a specific rule set.
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I went for three 6 foot by 2 foot 6ins trestle tables.
That allows for:
6 x 2.5ft skirmish size.
6 x 5ft Normal battle size
8.5 x 5ft big battle size.
As it turned out, one of the tables was delivered faulty and they replaced it, but I later fixed the faulty table, leaving me with a total of four! That allows a giant 12ft x 5ft table if needed. This is all in my garage by the way.
The exact table is here (has gone up in price it seems): https://www.befurnituresales.co.uk/product/6x-26-varnished-table/
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I likewise have three 6'x2.5' tables. Two horizontal, with the third "capping" the pair, vertically. This gives me a total space of 8.5"x5' (the capping table is slightly shorter)
We routinely use 6'x4' mats or smaller for gaming, leaving a whole table and an edge for all of the gaming gear. If needed two mats can be thrown down to cover the table and allow use of the whole thing.
For skirmish games, my buddy has two similar tables and we've found that one table is fine for small skirmishes - gaming on half the table and using the other half for gaming gear.
They're not sexy, or purpose-built, but most importantly they fold up and fit into my Golf, meaning I can throw two or three tables and bins of terrain and I can travel with a suitably large playing surface.
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I have 4 2.5'x6' tables. Generally, we use a 5'x6' configuration, with another table set up to hold spare minis, etc. But for big games (like the Zulu War game we have set for this Wednesday), we can do either 5'x12' or 6'x10'. Fits the gaming room in my wargame building just right... :)
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Thanks for the suggestions, folks. They all seem to point in the same direction, so that checks out.
As I will be going for a more or less permanent setup (tabletop on top of additional cabinets for terrain pieces, the whole thing on wheels so they can be moved together) I do want to get it as right as possible.
I will have to go take some more measurements to see if I can fit 2 or 3 of those in the room, but may get a table with adjustable height that can be stored away as a possible extension.
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I built an extending table. It is 4 by 3.5 then leaves put in in to extend it to 4 by 5.25 or 7. The leaves sit on top in unextended form. It is pretty versatile and I also use it for painting and craft stuff. It has a base built from ikea shelving units and is mounted on castors.
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I've seen some pretty solid looking 4' x 2' folding tables available in the UK, and I plan on getting three of these. One would be fine for small boardgames, card games, etc. Two makes a 4' x 4' table for skirmish games. Three makes a 6' x 4' table for bigger battles.
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Last year I finally got around to building the frame for my table, which consists of three 60*120 cm elements that can be bolted together to become a 120*180 cm table. It fits on the dining table because I really don't have the space to have a permanent table set up.
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My first dedicated wargame table in the late 1960s was made up of two (eventually 4) pasting tables fastened together with G-clamps (later holes were drilled to take long bolts). These folded away and could be stowed under the bed. They also had handles for easy transport. An advantage was that, when folded, they formed boxes into which polystyrene hills, bags of lichen, trees, hedges, walls etc. could be stored. The gaps were covered by strips of card and then the whole lot covered by old sheets dyed a greenish brown.
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Ikea have table-tops that are 1200mm x 600mm and matching screw in legs that can easily be removed and stored.
I have 3 of these which I can combine to make 1800mm x 1200mm (6ft x 4ft).
These are the most cost effective option that I found.
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Thanks for all the replies. What would you consider the ideal height for the tables? Currently thinking about bartable height rather than dinnertable.
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I would say around pool table height or slightly higher? Depends on your reach, table size and how much you like to sit down!
Dining table height means you can sit at a normal chair and still reach quite a bit of the table. Standing and reaching over will stress your back more as it is too low for this.
Going higher means you need some kind of stool to sit on but gives you a more comfortable reach to move stuff about when standing.
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Given a choice, I do vastly prefer bar-table height. Allows people to sit (with appropriate bar stools, etc.) or stand and more easily access the table. Also opens up the underside for more storage. So, given a choice if I were building a table, I'd go bar-height absolutely. However, having simply purchased folding tables, and using them occasionally for non-gaming stuff, I do not use bar height at the moment.
I suppose I could grab some cinder blocks though...
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I have a vague memory that Donald Featherstone in one of his books suggested something like 38 or 40 inches (96 to 102cm) as being ideal to avoid back strain.
My own table is nearer dining table height because my main players are our grandchildren and cannot see over anything taller!
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However, having simply purchased folding tables, and using them occasionally for non-gaming stuff, I do not use bar height at the moment.
I suppose I could grab some cinder blocks though...
I use folding tables and raise them with these (usually marketed as "bed risers")...
(https://images.thdstatic.com/productImages/b527f3a1-d40c-4126-8133-af62a2fc85a9/svn/black-whitmor-furniture-accessories-6511-3349-blk-64_600.jpg)
...so that when the grandkids are over to play I can set the height appropriately!