This may not be the forum for this, if so feel free to move it. This is inspired by several things, among them the ultimate gaming table website, and my thread here at Animalball.

What I am looking for is the inspirational, time saving and clever ideas that some of you must have assembled over the years of gaming. For the links that show us how to do it, and the cool stuff that's out there that maybe we've all missed.

I see guys out there who've gamed, according to their own admissions, for decades. Some of you may have the next cool idea I may adopt into use for my gaming group.

There was a sheriff's deputy in Wichita, KS whom I played AD&D 1e/2e with who carried around a series of 3"x5" index cards on a small ring. Each card had a 'catch phrase' on it that his character could mutter (or shout) at appropriate moments in the game. In retrospect, this was a very good way to bring some dimension to a character without getting  all 'thespy' -- or it would have been if most of the catch phrases hadn't been cribbed from the movie Tombstone

Quote from: Serious Paulultimate gaming table website

Bit of a thread-crap, but that table is creepy to the degree of owning a RealDoll. I would actively reject playing with anyone who admitted to owning it.

Quote from: MelanBit of a thread-crap, but that table is creepy to the degree of owning a RealDoll. I would actively reject playing with anyone who admitted to owning it.

Looks pretty damn cool to me.

You do know that one, do you?
http://www.agyris.net/v3/ugt/

Quote from: MelanBit of a thread-crap, but that table is creepy to the degree of owning a RealDoll. I would actively reject playing with anyone who admitted to owning it.

 ...and why is that ??

 Nothing "creepy" there but some pretty creative gamers as far as I can tell.

 Personally I would have done the table hexagons the same scale not squares.

- Ed C

Quote from: MelanBit of a thread-crap, but that table is creepy to the degree of owning a RealDoll.

Why? Does the table have some secret adaptations we don't know about? Slots and protrusions for Extra Fun Times? "You rolled a critical success! You know what that means! Unzip!"

:confused:

Quote from: SettembriniYou do know that one, do you?
http://www.agyris.net/v3/ugt/

I'm in awe of this sort of thing. I remember a thread on RPGnet a while back that had pics of a custom built table that intergrated a digital projector as a combat mapper. Brilliant stuff, I love seeing that level of commitment, even if I could never manage it myself.

Quote from: Kyle AaronWhy? Does the table have some secret adaptations we don't know about? Slots and protrusions for Extra Fun Times? "You rolled a critical success! You know what that means! Unzip!"

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Quote from: Kyle AaronWhy?

The analogy is indirect. Simply put, the table signifies a level of obsession with the hobby I get uncomfortable around. But I'm pretty big on gaming casually, and in a highly social environment, so anything that moves the experience towards "Serious Business(TM)" is suspect.

I also prefer a simple dining table for gaming purposes.

Quote from: Kyle AaronWhy? Does the table have some secret adaptations we don't know about? Slots and protrusions for Extra Fun Times? "You rolled a critical success! You know what that means! Unzip!"

:confused:

 My group that consists of 3 women and 2 men - that would have a whole different meaning.

 I'm just happy I found a 2nd chair that matches one I already bought for one of the players to use.  $29.00 at OFFICEMAX - decent chair on wheels with arms and a back to it.  I got TWO players who have back pain issues, like to make sure they're not in pain while we're gaming.

- Ed C.

Quote from: MelanThe analogy is indirect. Simply put, the table signifies a level of obsession with the hobby I get uncomfortable around. But I'm pretty big on gaming casually, and in a highly social environment, so anything that moves the experience towards "Serious Business(TM)" is suspect.

Whereas I view it as a bloody big fun facilitator.

Obsession is where a bloke will talk about nothing but his characters latest exploits no matter what the occasion. I'd rank the pictures above as no more "suspect" than a home cinema room.

In avoidance of the threadcrap...

One of the most time-saving things I found was the large scale printer at Kinko's. The max size it can print out is 36"x48" and if you have your map on digital format, you can just bring it in and have them scale it to the size that you want to print out. The cost is about 50 cents per square foot and so the black&white maps made cost about $5 or so at 0.75"=1.5m ( I have a bunch of HO scale miniatures that I use for Traveller).

You go into Kinko's with your map, they enlarge it, and then print it out. Usually while you wait.

They can also laminate up to three or four feet across, and as far as I can tell much further in length. We had a one inch grid square printed, by a friend who has access to a commercial printer, and then had it laminated for a few bucks.

Now we have a 2x4 foot 1 inch grid square we can use.

Melan, I think you and I are on the same page regarding the obsessive nature some folks in our hobby have, but I don't think this table is one of those signs.  I see it as more of the well stocked toolbench and workspace that my Dad has in the garage for any "special projects" that he'll be working on at any given moment.

EDIT:My favorite gaming table was an unused ping-pong table that was in excellent condition.  I try to keep a small footprint in front of me, but for those players who like to spread out three books, swaths of paper, loads of dice and bags of snacks, it gave us more than enough space./EDIT

As far as tips and tools, after funny dice I can't think of a better RPG accessory than index cards.  So far my favorite application is to use them for inititive and battle tracking:

• One index card per PC
• One index card per "big" monster
• One card per group of monsters (mooks)
• Each card has the core stats -- AC, to hit mod, HPs, etc
• Arrange the cards in initiative order and cycle through them as the battle goes
• Scribble any modifiers and changes -- damage, buffs, debuffs, etc -- onto the cards as the battle rages.

I found that it hasn't sped up combats any, but it does make things more organized for me as a GM.