21eRegt | 21 Aug 2012 5:38 p.m. PST |
So with all the 2+ hour games in vogue, I'm wondering about the table set-ups. For some the table appearance is almost as important as the game. So our poll asks, do you spend as much time setting up the game as before? A. Aesthetics rule, so an hour to set up and pick up is okay for a two hour game. B. I've cut back on the set up, time is precious! C. I never did set up a nice looking table. D. The games I play don't require an elaborate table. E. I avoid fast play games because of this. F. Other For me, I shy away from quick games because it isn't worth going to the trouble of a nice table for a quickie, and I must set up a decent table as the host. |
timlillig | 21 Aug 2012 5:48 p.m. PST |
What are you doing that takes so long? It does not take any longer to remove an item from the box and place it if it is a blob of felt or a painted terrain piece. |
Combat Colours | 21 Aug 2012 7:49 p.m. PST |
|
Lentulus | 21 Aug 2012 7:57 p.m. PST |
A. But, I think most of that time can be expended in planning and prep so the set up time on the day can be a quarter of that. |
vtsaogames | 21 Aug 2012 8:47 p.m. PST |
|
Glengarry 4 | 21 Aug 2012 9:09 p.m. PST |
A Presenting an attractive table is an art form! |
Tin Soldier Man | 21 Aug 2012 9:56 p.m. PST |
A. The game has to look believable. |
Bashytubits | 21 Aug 2012 10:49 p.m. PST |
I say A as well. I like the articles War Artisan has done on his setup. Very nice and it looks to be fairly inexpensive for how nice it looks. |
Martin Rapier | 22 Aug 2012 3:10 a.m. PST |
The faster the better, but preparation and planning can vastly reduce the setup time. I often do dry runs at home, take photographs of the setup and sort the terrain pieces into just the bits I need. This is particularly important for road/river sections as you can spend hours poring over a scribbled map trying to figure out where everything goes. Same thing for troops required, usualy pre-sorted into special transport boxes. Who wants to waste precious gaming time setting up? |
Rrobbyrobot | 22 Aug 2012 5:36 a.m. PST |
I'd say E. I often take a day, or at least the better part of one, to set up my table. I sometimes take a month to finish a game. That's kind of easy for me. I don't currently have any opponents. But I do have a dedicated game room. Call it my man cave, if you will. |
mad monkey 1 | 22 Aug 2012 6:57 a.m. PST |
|
richarDISNEY | 22 Aug 2012 7:21 a.m. PST |
Like Fonzy
"AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa
."
|
Rassilon | 22 Aug 2012 7:36 a.m. PST |
|
Pictors Studio | 22 Aug 2012 8:33 a.m. PST |
A for me although putting on a great looking table doesn't have to take an hour if you have your terrain designed correctly. For some games it will, of course, but for a big 19th century dust up set up can look great and only take 15-20 minutes. |
etotheipi | 22 Aug 2012 3:35 p.m. PST |
A. But it really doesn't take me an hour to set up a table
even with a beer break. It might take me a week to figure out what I want on the table and the better part of the day to find some of the pieces. |
Mako11 | 22 Aug 2012 4:41 p.m. PST |
Yes, A for me as well, with a bit of B thrown in too. Getting assistance from others to set up the games is very helpful, so that's where photos, and/or diagrams can come in handy. Other pre-planned details would be useful as well, to get the games going more quickly, e.g. unit starting points, stated objective lists to choose from, etc., so the players spend less time figuring out a battle plan, and more time actually playing. |
21eRegt | 24 Aug 2012 10:02 a.m. PST |
Several people have noted pre-planning and dry runs saving time on game day, but I roll that into that hour of set up I spoke of. I often set up the table the day before since I have a dedicated room, but sometimes just look at the table and ponder on game day. Never take up time when the players are present. But to me, time invested is time invested. |