👍👎MY CHEAP DIY GAMING TABLE - Review & How I Made It 

Finally! And in depth look at how I constructed my cheap home made gaming table. What I like, what I don't like, and what I am going to do differently when I build the next one. Hope this helps any of you that have been wanting to build something similar.

Place steel as the table surface, and then cover that with felt. Then you can still use magnets and still have the nice feel of the felt top.

"It's affordable, it's readily available..." *Cries in 2021*

Felt like I sat down and had a conversation with you about your gaming space. I'm already in the process of starting my own table and you have answered the exact questions I wanted to ask someone who's "been there, done that". Cheers to you and this amazing show. Best part of my day.

There's an instinct to put the DM at the head of the table. That does maximize how many people you can seat, but it puts the DM way over on one end of the map. When you build your new one, consider having the DM occupy one entire long side, with players across from him. If you build a standard 6' table, three people can sit across from the DM, with two more at the ends. Then the DM has worlds of space for other cool stuff, and he can reach everything. Those two guys on the end are a little isolated from the battle map, but I've played that way and it's not hard to adapt. You could also build a big square with one side for the DM and three sides that would seat two players each, but it starts to get uncomfortably wide, which makes it hard to fit in a room and makes it hard to reach the middle of the table.

Some suggestions : - Make the table an irregular hexagon, with one side being twice as long as the others. The long side for the DM obviously. - I don't personnally like the "add-on" for the DM screen problem. I'd rather have a piece of wood on a piano hinge that flips up. That way it's even quicker to set it up or discard it. - I'd add some USB outlets for the players and for the DM. Having the possibility to charge up your phone, or plug in a tablet to keep track of your character while gaming could be pretty handy. - Having one solid piece of steel would add a lot of weight to the table, and it's also much colder to the touch, and not as nice as felt when you place terrain on. I'd go for a thin piece of steel (like 1/16th of an inch thick), covered in felt. That way you still have a nice felt texture, it's not too heavy, and with rare earth magnets, it will still grab to the steel. With direct contact, the magnets may stick to the steel a bit too much, which could lead to them being ripped off of the terrain base. - For the LED lights, I'd go with one of these strips you can get on amazon, that have a remote control on them, or go with a raspberry pi zero to control it from a little control panel on the DM side. - I would add small 2 Ohms speakers at each of the player stations to play some ambiant music/sounds. - A piece of white fabric and a projector above the playing surface could be nice to display a map if you don't have the necessary terrain pieces, although it would be quite expensive. - Making a skirt between the legs out of wood would be a good way to stabilize the table, and it could be a way to mount the aforementionned USB ports/speakers/control panel for the DM. - If need be, some sliding trays could be added, with some cup holders for the beer/chips your players might munch on while you game, or a dice tray. - Speaking of dice, I've never seen a gaming table with built-in dice towers, but it sure would be cool.

This is by far the best design I've seen for a cheap, simple table. Great for someone with limited access to tools.

Flameless candles! That's a perfect solution for my dark basement that should light up the table. I love these videos for small details like that. Keep at it!

USB charging ports, speakers, cup holders.....I must have them. Also, a top to go in that recess so I can also use it as a regular table. Houses in the UK agent big enough to have dedicated gaming rooms

A couple of years ago I was getting back into gaming after 20 years and read a comment about so special gaming table so I googled gaming tables. I found the video where you were remodeling your room and showing off your new table and that's how I first found your site and the whole crafting community. I have to say that this has been a long awaited video.

"It's a boat time" But that's a table, friend

You talked about using hardwood on your next table, even though it costs more. If you are able to get hold of beech, it is as hard and durable as oak (and nicer looking imo) and costs about the same as poplar (at least in the midwestern United States). I used it as a tabletop for a steel desk that I made a couple years ago and it has stayed nearly perfect even with heavy daily use and two moves.

Would definitely like to see a build video of a new table. Thanks for the review!

Awesome, as usual. When you make the new table, you should raffle off the old one to a lucky fan or Patreon supporter.

Im going to steal all the good ideas in the comments for my table, gonna be sweet

i used 2x3 sheets of galvanized sheet metal, for duct work from Lowes, contact cemented down ply wood to make magnetic play surface

I’m making a wargaming table! But I’m hoping to add a top to it so I can get a group of nerds together for DnD! I’m so excited about it.

Have you considered a hexagon shaped table? My friend has one. Works really good. If you are four it feels like a smaller table than a rectangular one.

I love this table! I’m excited to see the new table you build and document. The lowered playing surface is definitely my favorite feature. DM’s area comes in close second.

I’ve been going through other videos and looking at other peoples tables. This is one of my favorites.

Have you considered altering the shape instead of the length? Meaning that you could cut two of the corners at 45 degrees. So the DM would have the full width and then you would have basically 5 player stations. Also if you made a full "lid" for the DM section it would be able to be hinged to make the screen and could be let down to use the table for board gaming. The lip you have inside could support a cover so that the top would be flat and even.

When this quarantine is all over I think you should rethink this table and do an updated build. Maybe a two part video. One just planning and one with the actual build.

Experimental idea for the playing surface: using a roll-up window shade laid flat, with a crank or an electric motor that you can use to change to surface from black, to cobblestones, to woodlands, etc. Essentially having a swappable battle map integrated in the table. An alternate design would be to store the battlemap rolls in a side panel of the table, and just pull on the desired one to unroll it over the playing surface, until it clips onto a magnetized strip on the other side. also, I think a black rubber board instead of felt is much more practical for cleaning, but also for noise reduction.

I'm planning on making my own table of similar design, this helped me see ways to make it look nicer than I probably would have done it. Thank you

Cool game table! Should add some cup holders on the next build and a little padded strip along the edges for comfort.

I haven't read the comments to see if this has already been suggested, but if you do decide to use steel in the playing area, there's nothing that should stop you from covering the steel with felt. It'll still retain the magnetic qualities, they'll just be slightly reduced.

Rare earth magnets are pretty strong, I would suggest gluing the felt over the metal table, also keep the playing surface easily changeable in case the worst happens with a coke or any other sugar drink. The felt will also slow down the spread to help keep it from getting to places it should not go..

Everyone got a to start somewhere and this is a pretty good start. My 1st game table was a ping pong table with 3 different felts I laid over it as terrain (green (Forrest), tan (deserts) and grey (caves and dungeons)). A small table is a good starting point for anyone who plays or wants to play DnD. I love the table, nice simple design and good for small games. Right on my guy.

I would love to see you remake your table. Please do it soon!

Dude I just a bought my first house here in Canada, I'm so happy to try to make a nice table as yours! Thanks for all great and inspiriting work!

Sugestion; for the lighting, in addition to your continuous surround soft light I recommend a few key spot lights you can turn on or off to add dramatic lighting/shadow effects on the models when the mood calls for it. I think that would be awesome.

I actually like this little table. It should be twice the length but it looks really good.

What about adding "Boxes" under the player edges, so extra books or papers can be placed there as well. and or cup holders to avoid a big spill into the terrain.

I have an idea for your next table. Perhaps a horseshoe shaped table would give you the room you need and the intimate feeling you are looking for. You can still, as the DM, have close access to the play surface, while the players are seated around you, sorta like a blackjack table with more depth. What do you think?

Great ideas, thanks for sharing! The lower mid section + lights + magnets seems great! I have no experience with carpentry whatsoever, but if I would ever build something like this, I would think of a "cover" for the mid section so that we could also play card games; and I would also think of a structure that could be easily disassembled and transported.

I just started doing research on tabletops and this provided me with a lot of ideas!

Interesting idea about the steel base for magnets. Instead of paint (which will eventually scratch) get a thin sheet of steel (from any metal supply store) and pre-drill screw holes into it. Then glue it to the wood base (provides structural support) then glue the felt over the steel. Finally screw the whole assembly in place. This gives you a solid base, a metal surface for magnets, and the clean felt top for protection and looks. Make the table long enough for 3 on each side, 1 on each end. This gives you enough for a DM and 7 players (maximum for an Adventure League campaign if your so inclined). Set the DM in the middle of one side. Its less private, but you can easily reach every part of your play area to facilitate setups and movements of NPCs and monsters. Assuming your play dungeon has the room for a table that large (maybe 6-7'x5'). I also noticed your design leaves a lip around the edge of the "pit." You could cut out a piece of MDF/ply to fit that area so you can lay it in to create a flat table playing surface for other games.

I love it, Jeremy! As I commented on one of your recent videos, I was fortunate enough to buy one of the last gaming tables Geek Chic ever made before going out of business, and I had numerous debates with people who thought the expense was unreasonable. Your table is a great example of someone using their own skill to achieve the same goal at a fraction of the price. However, if I tried to make a gaming table myself it would probably end up looking more like Homer Simpson's spice rack... I particularly like your innovation with the DM pseudo-screen, and the frosted glass cover on your future table sounds like a great idea. Would you ever consider making an expandable table that you could enlarge/shrink to suit the number of guests you have?

Love the idea of the sunken DM space. Whenever I can I play without the DM screen because it’s so hard to see/reach over, but sometimes my notes would easily spoil solutions to puzzles (etc). And it’s generally less fun when players have more information than characters

What about a round table with a straight side for the DM a bit like a casino gaming table. Gives you intimacy

I dont know if anyone else has suggested this but you could find an old dining room table on something like offerup that has sliders so you can make the intimate small table but not limit your playing ability by sliding it open and dropping in a leaf you can also have a insert that covers the lowered playing area so it can be used as a table I love building things but I live in a very small space so I'm always looking at how to multi purpose things I build or own haveing a background in carpentry makes it so you don't want to woodwork as much but the next table you make you should time and energy into it because it's going to be in your home where you will spend a lot of time around it and when your done have the pride in the fact that you did that and it's better then one you could buy. Great channel love your vids and you do amazing work keep it up and keep enjoying it

Your attitude here was outstanding. Humble and very explanatory on how to make it better.

All of the Aboot's in the beginning secure my knowledge of the fact that you are Canadian

I'd also add a lip between the players and the play surface... it would reduce how often pencils, pens, and dice roll onto the play surface, and offer some protection from spilled drinks. Even a quarter inch would be enough.

One thing you could do if you ever build a new table is after you build it but before you stain it etc. Take an electric drill and chuck a wire brush disk in it and run it over the wood. It will roughen the surface up by basically wearing down the softer aspect of the wood more than the grain part of the wood. Pay special attention to the end grain also. It makes it look worn and old. Just tossing that out there.

The other cool thing with a recess for the terrain/play area, is if you put a lip around it (like it looks like you did) you could then have a drop-in piece, to make it a flat surface for playing board games, or cards or whatever. I would even make the drop in have a grid on one side, so it can just be a battle mat or whatever I need it to be. I would also make some kind of station, similar to your DM one, for players, so they have space for their sheets, books, whatever. Maybe even laptops (my group uses them sometimes, depending on what we are playing, or if we have someone playing with us remotely, etc).

We used a fog machine for ambiance once (campaign took place in a swamp) but apparently we used the wrong fog liquid because everything ended covered with a very thin oily residue that took forever to clean. Since that fiasco our DM has taking up vaping so now we just use her as our fog machine.

You might also include recessed cup holders for the players, and also a dedicated recessed area for dice rolling, ideas I have seen on another video and intend to implement myself when I build a table! I really like your lights and the angled screen you made to go with your DM space!

That slope is so damn smart. Also what about when you make your next table why not put yourself in the middle of the length of the rectangle? That way you could still have access to the whole table and you can fit more people.

As I am in an apartment, I do not have much room. Those ledges you made to hide the LEDs could support an insert to turn into a dining room table. If you don't like the idea of tearing down the terrain to convert. Design a system to lower and raise the playing surface. Sure it's a lot of work and requires a level of engineering skill, but what a space saver.

first thing i thought of when i saw this table was to put a small raised lip around the edge of the sunken play area that will stop the inevitable drink spillage flowing into your play area and onto the felt/terrain

Good thoughts. I'm planning on starting a similar project in a month or two and doing a gaming table with a removable top cover so it doubles as a dining table when needed. I do plan to add a screen to the bottom for digital battlemaps though.

I have been waiting for this for so very long! Thank you! I am finally going to build my table!!

Thanks, your review just changed what we'll do for our upcoming table rebuild.

Hey great video, but is there any chance you could make a video on how you take dm notes and etc. I just sore a glimpse of your notebook and was intrigued by how you take notes.

I'm just amazed that you made this table in 3 hours, designed out of your head...

For a second there I thought those were my DM notes :D I tend to make them extremely simiar to what you had there. Great job with the table, love the channel!

Идея опустить ниже игровую поверхность с миниатюрами и террейном просто замечательная. Обязательно так сделаю.

Black Magic Craft vid? I'll just hit the like button before I watch it since it's that good ;)

If you decide to construct a new table soon you should put up a video Series on the building process, cost and whatnot. That would be very interesting to see and could inspire many people to follow in your footsteps to build their own tables

Thanks for sharing. I serendipitously found a PVC trim board that has wood-grain texture to can make a great construction material. I bought some for a bookshelf project and found it easy for construction and painting. It is available in 3/4" planks of various widths at home improvement stores and {currently} US$7.70 / sq ft. While it is more expensive than lumber, some advantages might be worth considering. One such brand name is Royal Building Products (this is not intended to be any endorsement of this supplier).

A suggestion as someone who has built both desks, workbenches and is working on the idea of a gaming table Try getting two sheets of 3/4 inch thick plywood and mechanically fasten the two sheets together to make a thick tabletop, from there you can recess the steel by cutting pockets into the plywood and it stains and seals surprisingly well, For a base at the DM's area possibly some drawer banks for storage of constantly used items such as minis, dungeon/terrain tiles and other little things like dice and pens and pencils, For each player area I'd recess them a bit into the table, give them a little U shaped cut in to allow them to really get into the game, I noted also you use what looks to be folding chairs, actual comfortable chairs may also better your experience. Your lighting you made some great points on and if you don't use plywood my suggestion for hardwoods is actually poplar or cedar rather than the preferred oak which is often expensive and hard to purchase in large quantities for decent prices. Also as for your legs and things, don't stress about those being expensive hard woods, etc. that I'd use a similar method to what you did BUT I'd invest in a KREG pocket hole jig, this recesses screws and lets you more securely fasten items together without showing the holes as much, also pairing screws with wood glue helps as well.

When making a rectangular table consider making it wide, not long, with three people across from you. that way you can make a much bigger playing area that you can completely cover with your arms without standing up. You also have a longer GM area.

I know it's a bit late, but I would think about doing a grid of magnets or steel posts sunk into the playing surface on a grid, then covering it with felt. The steel pins could be oversized so the magnetic pieces have a bit of wiggle room for minor size differences. If you want to add a bit of a challenge you could have some dice trays set into the players areas that can be covered with a piece of wood when not needed.

I love the this build. Thanks for sharing the good and the changes you would implement to improve it. Thanks again.

Finally finally finally. Been waiting for this forever

If you have the space, why not a hexagonal table? DM and five players.

Not sure if anyone else has made this suggestion but for the magnetic surface getting a car magnet printed up with the grid lines and the black magic craft logo in the middle would look great and quick

Awesome video!! Nice to get an in depth look from you. As a guy that rushed a gamer's table I enjoyed the evaluation of the needs the table must accomplish. Looking forward to the next build!

You should not use the word cheap but instead inexpensive. There’s nothing cheap about the work you do, it’s world class. Thanks for the great help you’re providing to all of us.

What about an octagon instead of a rectangle. If you get a cheep drop saw you can cut all the wood at 135c angles and have the table that way. Same close together feel but up to 7 player instead of 3.

Great design philosophy and implementation. I do like the transfer of the strengths to the next table. If I could add a suggestion, you could add a shallow drawers to each side of you or cubbies to store more stuff. The angled DM screen ideas add the right amount of privacy and interaction to the game and is brilliant as I would of only have a 6" board running across.

Consider a casino like table with squared off sides.. 5 or 6 should be relatively doable.. also, maybe a tv in the depression for an easily changeable landscape instead of battle mats.. would look amazing with your 3d terrains.. could easily add a clear polycarbonate/plexiglass grid over the top of the tv for laying out your tiles/miniatures.. magnaclear paint for you magnetic needs.. love your design ideas...

Id love to see you rebuild your game table. It would be awesome to see an improved design, maybe even a set of plans?

It's a good table. Doubt I could do better. But a few ideas would be to place a sturdy leg directly opposite where you sit, and round the table's corner edges. That would allow a players to occupy each corner. You might need to add another leg on each side to avoid tipping, or wobbling, unless the center leg is thick, heavy, and has (what are they called?) "Toes" on all four sides for added stability. Beyond that, the only thing I'd do differently is lower the player areas a little, similar to the dm area. Just in case a drink spills, it won't go into the lowered central area, with the nice terrain. 🍺💨

Another option to add in. You made the frame all the way round. if you include not a drop in space but a shelf for the players they can have thier manuals and spare dice on the shelf rather on the upper surface.

We have waited so long for this video, I cannot wait to see what you come up with.

Your photos and description are enough information to construct it, and other than not having a table saw to cut channels for lights totally doable with cheep tools... so thanks for that. I wish I had a place to put a dedicated table.. right now we set up a folding table in our living room, use the couch for 2 or 3 of the players and roll over a couple office chairs for the other side. If I could make a table like this that would have a similar footprint and fold up that would work, I'll have to have a long think about it. Or like someone else mentioned in these comments about a piece to fit on top of a folding table. Ours hinges in the middle so the topper would have to be two pieces also to realistically store happily against the wall when not in use.

An ideal table would have hinged sides for players & DM when open with lower terrain area, and then flip & close all the hinged sides so it forms a solid table for general use.

Quick question. First of all, thanks for the motivation to start building my own terrain! Second, I'm having a bit of a creative block. Other than dungeon tiles, what are some other useful builds to get the collection started?

My father had that skill-he'd just take a tape measure and a pad and pencil, write down numbers, go buy some lumber and hardware, and come home and build, even complex and intricate things. Me, I need plans. I could make them from this video if I were trying to clone your results. I could modify them the way you discussed easily enough, sure. But I'd have to make them or I couldn't build it.

Very nice table. I'm thinking of building a coffee-table that can double as a casual gaming table, so having the playing area recessed will allow me to cover it when not in use.

I've been wanting to make a gaming table for a long time. I've especially wanted a recessed playing area like the one you have here. The biggest problem is that there isn't an available space in my house to put one, so we game at the dining room table. It would seriously suck for our dining room table to have a recession in the middle. The pieces you did for the lights, though, look like they would make great supports for an insert that could be removed for "gaming mode." Kind of like a leaf, but only to reveal the recessed gaming surface (maybe there's a name for something like this, but I don't know what it is). I know my biggest problem is going to be the legs. I've made one table and the legs are also wobbly. Luckily, this is just a work table and only one side needs to be accessible, so I've been working on adding some support slats in between the legs. I wouldn't be able to do that with what would also be acting as our dining room table, though. Still, I love the look of this table and definitely want to take inspiration from your design in what I eventually make. Also, have you updated this table yet? I'd love to see a video on it, even in the same format as this video.

Have you ever thought about making a table wider instead of longer? Like black jack style so every player still has a direct line of sight with you and so that the rectangular play field doesn't have a "far" side from the DM?

I appreciate this video. I build furniture and can tell you that this has inspired me to make a gaming table for my friends that are tabletop gamers.

I think a wider rectangular table works better to keep the Gm closer to their players than a long rectangular table with the GM at the "head". Also making a wide rectangular table gives the GM more space for books/laptops/mini storage off to the sides.

Here's a suggestion: why not make a table with an extension in the middle like most kitchen tables!? I'm sure you could salvage the extension mechanism from old tables and use them on a new one! Same thing for the legs, you know, like the ones with a big bolt and screw or something!? What do you think?

With the little lip you have on the inside of your table, you could always have a drop-in panel, to make it into a regular table. I have limited space, so multi-use furniture is important for life/gaming balance. Maybe something to think about for your next one, I guess.

I like the idea. I think I will go with an asymmetric hexagon so I can fit 5 players and me, and no one can see my lower platform. Which they would with a symmetric hexagon. The angles ledge is a good idea and I think I will put in some sort of drinks holder in each space so there is less spilling, and maybe a felt area for dice throwing.

as an idea for my table i put slits in the wood for my fog maker/fan with my lights it looks awesome

Great review and amazing job. I love the led screen with the slope - that is a great idea. I was considering building something similar but I was thinking about having the main section rest on top of one of those electric desks that can raise and lower with a push of a button. My concept was to be able to lower it down between games and put glass panels on top so that I could use the whole table for card games/other games without the need to put away miniature terrain set ups. If I ever build it, I will share pictures and videos.

I have been thinking about creating a table in an Octagon shape but with two sides being used as the DM station giving 6 players their own space but still close enough together to hear everything.

I'm sure we'd all enjoy a video on you building this new table : 3

Great idea! You mention many things that I hadn't thought of, like the use of magnets. Consider using a dry erase board instead of steel for your surface on the next table. Many dry erase boards will work with magnets and may give you a nicer look. There may even be a use for the dry erase surface that I haven't thought of yet. Any way, nice table! I am jealous and now completely dissatisfied with my everyday, boring old normal table!

Awsoem! I will start designing my new table right after our session today. Stay tuned, I will share my design when I finish designing. It will be properly built table for 3-6 players and 1-2 masters with lowered action zone, lights, drawers and stuff and also I will design it as proper table. My goal is to make a blueprint for you to order cut wood and source some cams and screws and then feel like you're LEGOing your IKEAs.

Why not make a hex table? 1 dm and 5 players. Even if you double up 1 dm and 10 players. 5ft (1.3m) sides. 120 deg points from center.

Darn! I was just thinking of a raised table but since the last time I used a raised (and removable table (that can also allow drinks to slide UNDER the map with chips and whatever (yay))) table was before finding your channel and making some of the tiles and such. Now I have something to think about with the terrain being added. Perhaps I will cut the legs and "split the difference" I don't know. Patience will be key here. Thank you.

Great video. Love the DM shield thing you made for privacy. First time I've seen that.

I would almost suggest a table leaf for a future build so that you have the option to use the smaller table for small groups and larger for those that have more people...

Cant wait to see the new plans. This table was awesome, but your improvements you mention would make this table bad-ass.