I've been blessed lately with more players. However, the circle of couches around a coffee table isn't working anymore. I don't want to get something too expensive. No GeekChic table or anything too extreme, but I want to avoid goofy folding tables that aren't stable when someone presses against them either.
Realistically, here's what would be ideal for us.
8 person capacity (3x1x3x1 or 2x2x2x2)
Adjustable legs to change height (We're on couches now, but could move to regular chairs. I know this is unlikely to find, so it's only here as a "perfect set up").
Sturdy design, no folding tables.
If anyone can point me in the right direction, I'd be very appreciative. I know it sounds silly, but have you ever tried to find a cheap 8 person table, that doesn't fold? It's almost like they don't exist.
Try looking for a blackjack table. They've got room for plenty of players, and a super-convenient spot for the GM. Not EXACTLY what you described looking for, but it should fulfill your specifications.
A little weird, maybe, but functional, and the price is right.
Sorry, I was going to suggest going with folding buffet style tables. This is what I use and I've never had a problem with them.
Here is what my set up looks like. (though this is in my old house)
American Signature Furniture carries a few nice tables in your price range.
There's an "unfinished furniture" store here in Nashville that I've never checked out, but I've heard good things. I don't know if they're a larger chain or not.
If you don't care so much about elegance or matching your other furnishings, you can find some nice furniture at Goodwill. Also, check the newspaper and go to estate sales for a few weeks, and you might find a real bargain on something quite nice - but you'll probably have to figure out your own transport for it.
There are also places like Big Lots (or when I was in college in western Massachusetts, the "Railroad Salvage Store" was a favorite) that can have really good bargains on discontinued furniture lines.
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Sorry, I was going to suggest going with folding buffet style tables. This is what I use and I've never had a problem with them.
Here is what my set up looks like. (though this is in my old house)
Here you go..
I have the SVALBO which is the same table but slightly smaller.
It is a great table, really strong and built well.
If you don't care so much about elegance or matching your other furnishings, you can find some nice furniture at Goodwill. Also, check the newspaper and go to estate sales for a few weeks, and you might find a real bargain on something quite nice - but you'll probably have to figure out your own transport for it.
+1 to this. Look for dining room tables at Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. If you get one that takes leaves, you can purchase unfinished boards at Lowes etc. and drop them in without drilling and doweling them. My group uses an old Dining room table and it works very well.
You may want to reconsider folding tables as they often have adjustable leg lengths. I personally use a large folding table that handles 8-10 people well enough.
The Bjursta's a lil expensive for what it is, but I've seen one in person and that would be perfect if I could adjust the legs. If I get that, I'd have to get comfortable enough chairs to sit in for 5 hours of game.
If you're fortunate, there is a scratch-n-dent store nearby that carries office furniture. You may be able to pick up a conference table on the cheap...no adjustable legs, but the $$ you save could pay for good chairs.
Off-topic, and I apologize, but...
There's an "unfinished furniture" store here in Nashville...
...you mean there are more of us in Tennessee?!
If you're fortunate, there is a scratch-n-dent store nearby that carries office furniture. You may be able to pick up a conference table on the cheap...no adjustable legs, but the $$ you save could pay for good chairs.
Yeah there's a lot of salvage shops, as well as used furniture and thrift stores in the area.
I was going to write how I didn't care about price, etc. but... I think you have a great point there.
You could also try a ping pong table. It is 2.74 m (9 ft) long, 1.52 m (5 ft) wide, and 76 cm (30 inch) high, which leaves lots of room for big maps as well as character sheets, books, etc. You could even play ping pong on it if you feel like clearing off all the gaming stuff!
Build your own table.
Take plywood, cut to a comfortable size for your room, screw on a frame of screwed-together 2x4's, sand everything, and coat with many layers of paint or sealer.
Or cover with fabric for a more attractive look.
Do you or any of your players have basic carpentry skills?
If you don't feel confident with that, get one of those previously mentioned discount dining tables (whether used or just cheap) and set/mount it on top of some smaller coffee tables- basically using them for the legs.
Other ideas are to set the dining table top on milk crates or cinder blocks.
I moved into a new house and had room for a bigger table and found a large used table from the library for $10. So I second the thrift store idea. We have plenty of table space now.
I have a folding table that could probably seat 8, it was a paltry $50 at Sam's club. It's a serving table for those professional caterers so it's strong.
It's covered with a sheet of white board material that you can get at lowe's or home depot and cut to size. $14 bucks for the white board. The scraps were fairly large, but people just write their buffs on the table or smaller scraps. The largest scrap of white board I scored with a sharp nail and a t-square to make one inch lines. That works out well for maps.
Course our games are kept to 6 players, we used to have groups of 8 or even 10, but each round of combat to a long time.
-Tundra
EDIT: oh yeah, or just build your own with boards and screws, that's cheap!
I'm never one to build my own stuff because when I do it turns out looking like crap so my recommendation is IF you are anywhere near a military installation check and see if thye have a DERMO department.
It's where old stuff goes to die so you can get really good office type stuff cheap.
I have 6 very cushioned office chairs from a thrift store for 40 bucks each and the 6 person conference table was rescued from the dumpster after meeting the governments regulations it be thrown away, it was in the back of my truck before it had time to even settle.
check dermo, check the thrift stores and heck check free cycle and craigslist.
I did build my own Gaming table
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The Bjursta's a lil expensive for what it is, but I've seen one in person and that would be perfect if I could adjust the legs. If I get that, I'd have to get comfortable enough chairs to sit in for 5 hours of game.
It is a bit pricey, that said I did buy the smaller version, the SVALBO, which fits 6 comfortably. I use it regularly and it is a lot more sturdier then the Cheaper folding tables which I always found annoying.
It was one of the better things I have ever bought for gaming.
Now you may be able to find cheaper ones though, but I would stay away from folding tables.
I did build my own Gaming table
Nice setup/room. :)
Nice setup/room. :)I did build my own Gaming table
thanks Shifty
Nice table design. Can you tell me about the center console. Is that a drop pit for minis, or is it an underside projector, or a clear map panel?I did build my own Gaming table
it is a glas-plate, the idea is to project floor plas with a LED projector up from the floor to the glas
it is not working as we did hope and we are still trying to figure out how we can make it work