Currently running games of DM plus up to 7 players on my dining room table. I have a 43” monitor that I sometimes use for digital maps but most sessions I use a dry erase grid and/or 3d terrain pieces. Due to the design of the monitor and cable routing I have it raised up about 4 inches above the table when we use it.

In a few months I’ll be able to move our games to a dedicated space and I’m trying to figure out what I need and want out of a game table. Most tables I see have a recessed center area and only a narrow space around it for everyone’s stuff. Is this design choice just to allow the set to stay in place while adding a removable top so the table can do double use or is there a functional reason I’m missing? My current setup with the raised monitor allows larger items like books or folders to slide under the overhanging part of the monitor. I guess I’m trying figure out the pros and cons of having a recessed game space in the middle, a level surface with the monitor recessed under the table top, or keeping going with a raised monitor to be able to utilize the space under it. Any other features people love or hate on their table? Should I integrate drink holders, dice trays, mini storage, stuff like that? Thanks!

I have been working on making odds and ends little pieces for adding some flair to battle maps out of scrap wood pieces I’ve picked up here and there.

My biggest issue is a lot of the good resources/Youtube walkthroughs on how to put together good terrain kinds of pieces are more… practical… and are using supplies that are better suited and easier to work with.

Are there any good places where I can find information on how to put things together from actual pieces of wood (rather than like balsa wood or foam board)?

Also looking for a place to get a better understanding how how to work with wood stain at this size of pieces.

Thanks!

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Attaching a couple of my current recent projects for context,

1. Vendor stall (WIP - Planning to use a tennis ball skin as a pelt/hide roof

2. Tables and benches (for a rustic-y tavern or similar kind of place. Mini inclined for scale)

3. Billboard and boxes (billboard sign is from a can of soda, currently taped over to prevent damage)

i wanna build a library of character cards.

here's some of them

Hope you like it!

Hello all, I am designing a table for D&D and I would love to get some opinions. I started mocking it up in OnShape (there will be a link at the bottom), and while it makes sense to me, I wanted to see if this is absolutely insane to do.

I currently have 7 players in my campaign, so having a large table space is important to me. Also, in my family we love to have big gatherings and play board games so having a large table that isn't just for D&D would be nice. Also also, I would like to be able to break it down and create a smaller table as seen in the last slide (Which clearly has issues currently).

I realize that there are already some issues with what I have drawn (like the support going right into the DM spot). This is still an early mockup, but I want to get some feedback on options you all would enjoy in a game table/D&D table. Whether that is outlets or cup holders. Or more on the construction side like different supports or joinery options. I love feedback so don't hold back.

I played around a bit with doing a protective edge that goes around the whole table, still deciding how that might work/attach.

Budget isn't really a concern as some of my players have expressed interest in helping financially and physically, but I probably won't be building this for a few months (Still working on buying a house). That doesn't mean I want to spend $5000 building a table though. I want it to be somewhat reasonable.

Overall dimensions

• Octagonal top, 118.2" × 118.2" footprint (small flat to small flat)
• Player-edge segment width: 30" per side 16" deep, ~31" on the diagonals (Seen in dashed lines on picture 4)
• Room in the center for my wet erase battle map/larger scale encounters in the future. (Seen in dashed lines on picture 4)
• 30"x22" cutout for the DM
• DM Screen either sits on top or latches on somehow, but I want it removable

Tabletop construction

• Modular leaf design: 4 corner leaves + 4 side leaves + 1 center leaf (9 panels total)
• Trying to decide to do 3/4" or 1" plywood tabletop
• Material: Baltic Birch plywood
• 4 legs, 5.5" square posts

Joinery (knock-down/breakdown capable)

• Leaf-to-leaf: dowel pins or tapered mortise & tenon to get lined up + under-table leaf locks
• Apron-to-legs: Pocket joints?
• Tabletop-to-apron: Currently looking for solutions to this.
• Diagonal bracing-to-legs: Currently looking for solutions to this.

Please don't hesitate to leave any feedback on any topic that relates to this project. This is a blossoming hobby of mine so I want to make sure I get all my bases covered.

OnShape Link (Don't make too much fun of my feature ordering and management)

Used Frixion pens for the main map and normal ballpoint for the hidden bits, so when you heat it the Frixion disappears and reveals the secret map underneath.

I originally planned to give the players candles to solve it, but it’s cold here at the moment and the fireplace turned out to be a much better (and safer) option.

Also, fun little bonus: you can reset the whole thing by putting the paper in the freezer, so I was able to do the reveal twice.

This took friggen ages. Do not recommend :)
vids of it in action: https://imgur.com/rxsN2y3 https://imgur.com/qq1DOlm

I recently tried out a concept for a dnd encounter, wholly thought of and designed by me, that I ran an Ai through, to see how they would react, both to test my idea, and test my adaptability. I know Ai is also supposed to compliment you, but I found the experience to be really helpful to build up a whole fantasy race, and trying to creating something alone.

So what do you think? Is it okay to use the Ai PURELY as a tool?

I’m gonna be starting a DnD game in a month and I finally get to do in person combat. With that I’m doing in person combat and I want to make custom set pieces. I plan on using offcuts from lumber from work as I’m a carpenter. I know I’m gonna make houses out of Windsor One. I’m just looking for ideas of interesting set pieces?

Knife only, Beginner Caricature tutorial just posted to YouTube.

Should be easy enough that an absolute Beginner can do it, and i have painting tips at the end of the video!

Wizard!!!!

3inchs tall, 1x1 block of basswood, finished with acrylic paints.

Im planning a build for a tabletop tv case and was wondering if people are leaving like an 1/8" gap or so between the tv and the glass/acrylic itself. I would like to avoid creating any distortions.

Also is there a preferred minimum thickness for the protective layer to help prevent flexing.

Hey everyone, I've been working on a modular dungeon collection, and this is the third set in the series.

The modular pieces are designed to be mixed and matched with the previous sets, so you can build different layouts and themes depending on your session.

They're available on MyMiniFactory, and there's currently a 30% sale going on if anyone is interested.

Hope you like it!

https://www.myminifactory.com/profile/grimrotcollective/store?categories=8838

Hello!
In my city there is a yearly Kerbside Collection where people dump out the things that they don't want, and then the council collect them.
I have recently acquired a 65" TV from someone dumping it out which surprisingly works, which has inspired me to start up a D&D Campaign again.
I also happened to get a nice table that is about the size of the TV (That someone dumped out as well lol), but need help with ideas on how to set this TV up to be playable.
The image attached is the table & TV, note that the TV has legs.
I have no experience with woodworking, and have 5 people (+ me as the DM) to crowd around the TV, and need help with getting this in good working order and somehow giving the players a way to store their dice/character sheets and my computer.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you so much in advance - I'm super excited :))

Gummi Bearkins are done! hope to get the villains done in the near future

I feel like we sometimes overthink building scenes for our campaigns. But honestly, if you've got a bit of imagination and a few things lying around, it gets really fun, you can basically make whatever you want. Here's a little look at how I do mine.

How do you build yours?

Got a 3d print from a friend, made a hollowcast and made them out of epoxy.

Hey everyone, I’m looking to build a castle and surrounding town for a battle royale one shot. I want to print the buildings and everything. I’m looking for a castle that has multiple levels that can be added as the players move up the castle. If anyone has any suggestions that can steer me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

If you're looking for a better way to Catalog your tabletop miniatures (and terrain), checkout this app. You can take photos of the minis you create and keep an up-to-date catalog of your pieces. Also, it's free (unless you want to Catalog more than 50 miniatures).

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.base6a36d339c51bcba7663423a6.app&pcampaignid=web_share

So, I originally just asked this because I wanted to make a fun graphic for myself, but after some research THERE ARE NO TEMPLATES for a like, "DM profile" or "GM Business Card".

My original idea was just to have a radar/spider chart with different "DM skills" like improv and dad jokes. It was supposed to just be a fun side project for me while it's slow at work to make for myself, but after asking around this seems to be something many people would love to have, and also something that I can't find anywhere!

So, I come to you. What "stats" would you like to see on a very simple graphic like a business card (but not limited to a business card, could also be an image posted to social media) to show potential players what kind of DM you are?

Or less specifically to D&D a GM.

Came up with some ideas if anyone is interested. I will probably redo them in the style of a videogame when I figure out what I want https://imgur.com/a/Es8Ootp

Long story, short, there's a long running joke at our table that our Drow Rogue singlehandedly killed Cryovain in our DoIP finale. Our fighter got upset, and during downtime, commissioned Bards to write songs about Thunderstorm the Dragon Slayer.

Fast forward to now, some rich entrepreneur commissioned a bunch of Thunderstorm themed merch to sell in Phandalin.

The party will encounter the caravan under attack and dozens of bobbleheads spilled along the roadside.

I’ve been looking at different hybrid D&D table builds, including some posted here, and I know this isn’t a new idea.

People have already done TVs built into tables, Roll20 on the table, physical minis over digital maps, webcams for remote players, conference mics, etc. I’m thinking about building one for my group, but there are a few parts of the usual setup that I think could be improved.

My main problem is that hybrid sessions are still very unbalanced for the remote players. The people physically at the table naturally talk to each other, interrupt, make jokes, move minis and roll dice, while the remote player usually experiences all of that through one webcam and a conference mic. I don’t want to fix this by putting everyone on their own laptop because that defeats the point of playing together in person.

I’m planning the table for 4 physical players and 2 remote players. The two remote players would have screens in actual positions around the table, roughly where their heads would be if they were sitting there, with their audio coming from the same place. The center of the table would be a large screen running Roll20, with the local players using physical minis on top of it and the remote players controlling their tokens normally.

For the local side, instead of one webcam and one conference mic, I’m considering a small camera and directional mic for each seat, plus a general table camera. The remote players would receive one automatically produced feed rather than having to look at five camera windows. If player 3 is talking, they see player 3. When nobody is talking, it goes back to the general/table view. I’d also have a dedicated camera over a dice tray so physical rolls can easily be shown to the remote players.

The other idea came from reading about people having problems with IR touch frames detecting minis as touches. Instead of trying to prevent that, I’m wondering if I can actually use it. I’d like the table to identify and track the physical minis and synchronize them with Roll20. So if I move my fighter physically across the map, the fighter token moves in Roll20 and the remote players see it happen. I’m thinking about custom circular bases that the IR frame could identify somehow, maybe through different contact patterns. NFC, computer vision or a combination of technologies could also be options. I haven’t figured that part out yet.

The goal is for the physical and remote sides to work both ways: local players move real minis and Roll20 follows; remote players move their Roll20 tokens and we see that movement on the table; local players roll real dice and the remote players can watch through the dice cam; and conversation should feel much closer to having six people sitting around the same table.

I’ve seen several builds that solve individual parts of this, but I haven’t found one yet that puts all of them together this way. Before I start prototyping, I’d really like to hear from people who have built digital/hybrid tables before. What parts of this are likely to work, what am I underestimating, and has anyone experimented with using an IR touch frame to actually identify or track individual physical minis?

Planning on running flying combat and I’ve been trying to find a simple rod that I can extend and retract.

All the ones I’ve found so far are either too long even when collapsed, or it shows results for products that use the telescoping rod but not just the rod itself.

Has anyone had any luck, or have you had to modify an existing product?

As a broker dm that still wants to make terrain for my sessions, the dollar store and scrap saving is my saving grace. Some fake ivy glued to scraps of sisil rope, popsicle sticks, and lil pumpkins made for a great map to play on. My foam terrain could use some more work, but I'm proud of my stippling for grass since I hate flocking.

Made the scarecrows thirty minutes before the session with coffee stirrers, t-shirt scraps, and some squishy beads I poorly painted. Love how they turned out.