"Tables with Flat Video Screens for Terrain" Topic

I'm sure we've all seen them, mostly used for RPGs. You have a big table with a flat monitor in the middle. The GM connects his laptop and put his map on that screen, the minis go on top.

A new game store wants me to build one for them, and I think that would be a fun project. I have the technical stuff figured out (but if you have any tips I'm al ears).

The question is design. Obviously you need some space around the edge for character sheets, dice, rules, snacks, and elbows. Probably 12". And it feels like a a 42" monitor would be about right, so that's about 32x22". That means the far side of the map is 34" away from me as I sit at the table. If I'm the GM the far side of the map is 46" away, more if I give the GM more than 12" for his materials.

Does that sound good? I feel like you're pretty far away from the game board.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Tangential thought, how do we not have a furniture board?

I've seen these as well, it not my cup of tea seems like abstraction.

Do you mean "distraction"? I think I agree, but this is not for me. I *like*making terrain, I like the 3D aspect of it, and any fooling around you do with the laptop to scale the map right or whatever takes you away from the game.

But some people really like these things, and I'll enjoy building it. So the question is how to make it the most enjoyable it can be.

I'm waiting for a rollable OLED to be reasonable cost.

If you're talking RPGs, a lot of people still play on a flat, dry erase board map. That's because in a 6-8 hour session you might visit three or four tables worth of places, on average. Sometimes a lot more. And often a single session will visit very varied terrain – a trek starting in a port city, with an encounter going downriver, then at the bridge, follow the road to something happening in mountain pass, then up the mountain to the lair of the Whoeverwerelookingfor.

RPGs also benefit signficantly from progressive reveal of the terrain. Going through a dungeon where you can see where all the rooms are before the start is less fun.

Rebuilding boards and progressively building boards during a game really slows stuff down. If you had the luxury of a stage hand to do that for you while you ran the game, it would not be as bad.

Basically, it's a compromise between visual appeal and the scope of the adventure for the session, which is usually larger than fighting over the same bit of ground the that everyone can survey completely.

Having multiple nicely printed maps is an option over the dry erase. If they come in tiles, you can pogressively reveal. Those become more complicated when the players decide to do some things in a different order than your plan.

I do have one other option to meet those demands. inlgames.com/layers.htm It was cool, but it only has limited use cases.

There is lots of lovely wooden beading trim on the market; I'm sure you could find some that would complement your design while making a low ridge around your video screen to minimize damage in case somebody spills their Coke.

Grelber

Would an overhead projector pointing straight down be easier to build and maintain? Just a suggestion and I have zero engineering knowledge or experience with these things so please ignore if it is stupid 😁

I do like the idea of a screen for terrain, especially for naval games. I have always thought it would be a great way to have fog of war where you plot your moves on your laptop and then the battles appear on the screen.

As for the inevitable spilled coke, my plan was to have a sheet of tempered glass over the monitor. Then some kind of seal or grommet to that the cola will never get to the screen. Because Stone Cold Guarantee, someone is going to spill cola on that table.

I've read of people using ceiling mounted projectors and they seem happy with their projects, but that means projecting colors onto the minis sitting on the map. Plus shadows of arms and weapons blocking out terrain. I just don't see that as the best solution.

The big question is, how big should the screen be and how much space do people need between them and the map?

That sounds like a great idea. Especially for D+D games.
New ideas are the energy for making games even ore enjoyable.

martin

Thanks Andrew. I agree with your points regarding the projector.

Your first post sizes seem to be reasonable. 12" will fit most rule books, etc. 46" across the table for the GM is less than the usual wargame table of 72"x 48" so should be fine for most people.
My only other thought is if the standard size for a sheet of tempered glass close to these measurements? Maybe go with that for simplicity and cost if it is similar.

Good luck with your project

At extreme angles you can't see whats on the screen. We do this with a much smaller screen but even then some times you need to stand up to see

A company called digitaltabletops.com was trying to sell something like this at last year's Origins.. they had one with a 42 inch wooden frame . And went as high as 50 inches.

Oop! It looks like that website is now for sale. Unfortunately we did not take a picture of their product.

I was talking about why and I didn't answer the OP:

* You have a spilled drink plan.

* Divots with lift out inserts would be good. RPG players tend to have small stuff like that to store and organize. Like a silverware drawer organizer, with the option to fill in the cubbies to make flat table space.

* A divot/dice tray would also be nice to keep dice from wandering everywhere.

* An alternate divot fill with an easel to hold up a folder or book might be nice.

* Cup/snack holders on the side, below the main table level also allow you to keep that stuff off the table proper.

* Good bracing, possibly legs on the outside of the table. If people lean on the table to stand up and sit down, that will warp and torque the tabletop. I don't know, but I imagine that wouldn't be good for the screen or the glass top (or the sealant).

Feedback from the person getting the table would be needed. A standard seating plan helps plan out cubbies, drink holders, and leg spacing. The GM might want a differnt layout than the players … do they sit at the head of the table or the middle of a broad side?

It would be interesting if you could just scroll the map as the party moves across any edge.