I've used a battlemat and I've also used a cheap marker board on an easel, but neither were great.  Wet erase can be messy and the marker board didn't have a grid.  However...

I've since found this marker board.  It is magnetic and there's a grid printed on it.  That way I can also use magnets for PCs and NPCs.

I don't have as much space as I'd like, so I've got to be able to setup flexibly.  Otherwise I'd be tempted to copy Serious Paul's setup.  Very nice.

Quote from: KoltarI got TWO players who have back pain issues, like to make sure they're not in pain while we're gaming.

On behalf of every gamer everywhere with back pain, THANK YOU!

I can't tell you how many times I used to game where the host only provided the usual fold-up metal or plastic chairs (usually while taking the easy chair for himself). I'm too damn old for that shit anymore, and appreciate the extra effort that someone such as youself goes to.

Very well done.

AN

Quote from: MelanThe analogy is indirect. Simply put, the table signifies a level of obsession with the hobby I get uncomfortable around.

Whereas the obsession signified by spending hours of every day on forums just talking about rpgs, you're comfortable with?

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.

I get where you are coming from. People that get really obsessive about their hobbies, whatever those hobbies, are creepy. It's just a question of whether owning a custom built gaming table constitutes being "really obsessive". And that's going to depend on the individual themselves.
 
I like to homebrew. A bit like roleplaying, there are casual homebrewers that make the occasional batch. And then there are the serious, obsessive brewers that build their own gear, such as mashing tuns, custom burners, counterflow chillers and full kegging set ups. Strangely enough, converting an old fridge into your own draught beer setup is considered pretty damn cool.
 
So how is that much different to the guy who builds is own game table? Other than the fact that drinking beer is cool and gaming isn't?
 

QuoteI also prefer a simple dining table for gaming purposes.

To me, the ultimate gaming table would have enough space for 6 people to sit comfortable (preferably in chairs with arms). The surface would be hard wearing and easy to clean. And the table itself would be located in a room with good ventilation in summer, good heating in winter, and a nice stereo in the corner. Ideally, it would be close to the kitchen.
 
Anything else is just greedy

Quote from: Kyle AaronWhereas the obsession signified by spending hours of every day on forums just talking about rpgs, you're comfortable with?

Most definitely. Now running a blog... I don't know about that. :haw:

Quote from: Tyberious FunkTo me, the ultimate gaming table would have enough space for 6 people to sit comfortable (preferably in chairs with arms). The surface would be hard wearing and easy to clean. And the table itself would be located in a room with good ventilation in summer, good heating in winter, and a nice stereo in the corner. Ideally, it would be close to the kitchen.
 
Anything else is just greedy

If your ever in the US. Drop me a line. I got everything you listed except the chairs with arms. (That costs money I dont have at the moment)

Quote from: RoninIf your ever in the US. Drop me a line. I got everything you listed except the chairs with arms. (That costs money I dont have at the moment)

Nope - just $29.00 at a nearby OFFICEMAX if you're lucky.

Sometimes an affordable set of "Director's Chairs" can be found at places like WAL-mART or TARGET for a decent price.  They are fgoldable and have arms.

 See if your players will chip a few bucks each to pay for a set .

- Ed C.

Quote from: KoltarNope - just $29.00 at a nearby OFFICEMAX if you're lucky.

Sometimes an affordable set of "Director's Chairs" can be found at places like WAL-mART or TARGET for a decent price.  They are fgoldable and have arms.

 See if your players will chip a few bucks each to pay for a set .

- Ed C.

Need 7 chairs. At 29.00 each thats 203.00 all together. More than I can spend at the moment. Directors chairs suck. They wear out and are not very comfortable in my opinion. As for the players chipping in. Thats gonna be a no go. As it stands right now I've been making food forbefore the game. As we play at 1:00 on sundays. Well I used Kyles (I believe it was his idea anyway) idea of the food jar. Where people drop some money into the kitty every session. Well out of the five potential donors (their seven of us total, but I dont figure I have to drop money in the cup or my roomate. As we are buying the food) I got a grand total of three dollars. So next session I have to bring this up. I figuring that the food before the session will go the way of the dodo bird. That people will fend for themselves. But we'll see. I do appreciate the ideas though Koltar. Unfortunatly none of them work for me at the moment.

We have crap for chairs right now too, as I can't afford to purchase six or seven for my players, and they haven't got that money right now either. But when I do get the money I am going to start by checking a lot of the second hand furniture stores-living in Grand Rapids, former furniture production capital of the world, has it's benefits.

I'd like a nice gaming room-one of my players, who is on hiatus due to some child care issues (They just had a new one), has an awesome set up-big spacious basement, with a trac drop ceiling, wall to wall carpet, a bar (Like a really cool bar, he makes them as a side job), and a sweet table. Dart  board, computer desk.

I'd like something similar. I mean the money I'd invest would be worth it, since we entertain weekly, and frankly dropping a few bucks on this instead of say BW3's each week is okay by me.

Quote from: Serious PaulI'd like a nice gaming room-one of my players, who is on hiatus due to some child care issues (They just had a new one), has an awesome set up-big spacious basement, with a trac drop ceiling, wall to wall carpet, a bar (Like a really cool bar, he makes them as a side job), and a sweet table. Dart  board, computer desk.

I am about to finish my basement.  I would like to hire your friend to come down and build mine.  Then invite everyone on TheRPGSite for a weekend of gaming including D&D 3.5 Living Grewhawk, Burning Empires, and FtA! you can all sleep on the beds and floors of my extra rooms - but y'all are springing for the food and drinks....

And we have to clean up or miy wife will kill each and every one of us....slowly...

And (for Bill ) No Smoking in the house...

dream a little dream.

He does a sweet ass job. His bar has the whole set up-mirrored wall, shelves with bottles (We bought some for him as a house warming gift), taps-hooked to a kegarator, I think he has two beers on tap, stools-everything. All made by him.


It's pretty sweet. I can't wait till he can host again, even though we always get way too fucked up when we play with him.

This thread spurred me to mention a new table to my group, which manged to grow into starting up a gaming fun so we can convert the garage and get more room for nicer furniture. We'll be giving food XP for $10, so hopefully it'll come together quickly.

:hyper: <- That's me, all jazzed up

Quote from: RoninWell I used Kyles (I believe it was his idea anyway) idea of the food jar. Where people drop some money into the kitty every session. Well out of the five potential donors [...] I got a grand total of three dollars.

I take it that you made it all explicit? Not just a hint or suggestion, but, "guys, from now on rather than arranging our own munchies, I think it'd be good for us to have a Geek Money Jar, put in five bucks each, and I'll organise all the food and drink from that." And then get their agreement?

If you just mumble something vague about everyone contributing, then it's all luck - you might get some guy who chucks twenty in every time, and then some other guy who always has a pre-game piss just at that time, or who mumbles something about being broke because he bought the entire set of Super Duper Dude comics today. You have to be specific, "we will pay X dollars each, and get Y for it" and get their agreement.

Of course it's uncomfortable to be openly asking your mates for money. What I do is to feed them dinner first, and then put the jar in the middle of the table as I get the game books out and pass out the character sheets, and tell someone to bring the snacks over from the kitchen bench. They usually get the hint. Then I note down each player's contribution, so that if Jim puts in $5, he's paid for the munchies for this session, but if Bob puts in $20, he's paid for this and is three sessions ahead. I say who's got how much credit, and who's behind (normally no-one).

Otherwise, if it's not working, just stop it. Let them fend for themselves, as you said. The Geek $ Jar has three purposes: to give a sense of investment to players so they'll show up to sessions (it's silly but it works), to save players a few bucks as things bought for the group in bulk will be cheaper, and to save players the trouble of getting stuff (so they can come straight from work with no detours to stores).

The other way a group could arrange it is that the resonsibility for paying for and buying the stuff circulates around each week. I'd get everyone agreement on how much that should be (I assume, $5 x number of players), otherwise some well-off guy will spend oodles while some genuinely poor guy will spend little. You'd also need reliable players for that, it'd be annoying to have the guy whose turn it is not show, or forget.

McMurray, that's an excellent idea to build up the funds for a gaming room. I can't do that myself, as I've not the space for a dedicated gaming room. And also it would commit me to playing with the same guys for years on end, I like to circulate gamers around a bit

Quote from: Serious PaulHe does a sweet ass job. His bar has the whole set up-mirrored wall, shelves with bottles (We bought some for him as a house warming gift), taps-hooked to a kegarator, I think he has two beers on tap, stools-everything. All made by him.

*sigh*
 
My dream.  To one day combine two of my hobbies, homebrewing and roleplaying.

Although I like the looks of that ultimate gaming table, I have to say, rolling dice around the dinner table does have it's charm

Regards,
David R