Modular Activity Table

Wait, you said you'd let it rest... Yes, don't worry. I just stumbled across this while surfing the web. Thought I'd share it. It's a bit low for a wargaming table, but interesting nevertheless.

Here's the link to the website containing all the details.

Exit, Stage Left!

Alas, the campaign has ended and failed to meet its goal. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of setting it up and learned a thing or two about product marketing. I feel I did the best I could with the time/effort available and would have loved to see the table being used by people - other than myself.

There are probably a few things I might have done differently/better. A clearer campaign statement, professional video presentation, additional perks, just to name a few. Still, there was enough enthusiasm and interest in the table, but for most I believe the price was simple too high.

My MGT experiment ends here. I would like to thank everyone for their support and positief feedback. Special thanks go out to those brave few who actually contributed their hard earned cash, which of course will be refunded.

Thank you, you've been a wonderful audience.

MGT Update 7 - Stretch Goal?

10 days left to go and 42% of the campaign goal covered. If you're out there, NOW is the time to contribute!

According to the poll, about 60 people said they wanted a Modular Gaming Table if the price was right. 3 of them bought a table. This leaves us with 57 prospects. Obviously, for them the price is not right.

I did my best to lower the price as much a possible. I'm in the position to buy the materials at a discount, I got access to the machinery and know-how to work with the materials. Believe me, the current price is at its minimum. To give you an idea, making a table like this at a local welder will cost you about 800 - 900 euros.

However, there's another way to lower the price, but this requires an investment of about 3000,- euros. The investment involves the development of a plastic connection bar. Something similiar to the one below. The new connection bar not only reduces material and labor costs, but also improves overall stability and weight capacity considerably.

Early adopters of a MGT set buy a table, but more importantly they contribute to the further development of the table. Furthermore, early adopters will receive future upgrades like the new connection bar above for free.

I'm willing to invest if the campaign succeeds, but are you willing to contribute?

MGT Update 6 - Going Live!

I thought about making a video before and I probably should have made one at the beginning of the MGT campaign, but I didn't, until now. What better way to demonstrate the table, than to simple show.

I made three videos in total. One showing the construction of a 2x3 setup, one showing the deconstruction and another one showing the construction of the storage setup. I'm also demonstrating my personal gaming boards both in the table and storage video. Enjoy!

Note: the gaming boards are intended for demonstration purposes only.

Video 1 - 2x3 table (construction)

Video 2 - 2x3 table (deconstruction)

Video 3 - storage (construction)

MGT Update 5 - Examples

So, you want a MGT set, but can't really decide yet? Let me show you what one MGT set gives you in terms of table configurations, besides what has already been demonstrated.

1.

2x4 feet

 2.

4x4 feet

 3.

4x6 feet

4.

Half star setup

5.

2x4 feet layered setup

Having two MGT sets opens up a whole set of configurations. One of such is the "star" configuration shown below, perfect for fighting out siege games.

Star setup (two MGT sets combined)

MGT Update 4 - International Shipping

For the past few days I've been receiving questions about International Shipping rates. Even though the world seems more connected than ever, sending a package around world without selling your kidney is not as easy as it seems. Especially when the package falls outside the maximum allowed size restrictions.

However, there is still hope! There are still companies offering reasonable shipping rates with flexible size restrictions. Therefore, I can now offer a fixed shipping fee for shipment to the USA. I've added a new perk for shipment to the USA.

Please contact me if you desire to know your International Shipping fee and I'll do my best to find the best deal.

MGT Update 3 - Adjustable legs

A double MGT set has been claimed! White Knight, know from WK's Miniature Imperium decided to take the plunge. Many thanks for his contribution. Be sure to check out his blog and his wonderful collection of Renaissance themed fantasy miniatures.

Another table has been claimed while writing this update. It seems like the campaign is starting to take off. Again many thanks for your contribution. This leaves us with only 6 more tables to go!

left: old static leg; right: new adjustable leg

Some might have noticed a difference in the legs on the pictures shown on the blog or on the gallery section of the campaign website. This is due to some improvements that have been applied after the prototype table was made. The new version has adjustable legs while the prototype table has static legs. The picture above shows both versions side-by-side.

So why the need for adjustable legs? First, the adjustable legs are lighter, have lower production costs and are removable for easy packaging. Secondly, the legs adjust themselves to uneven floors for stable footing. Thirdly, they are required when combining multiple MGT sets together to form one table.

Let me elaborate the last statement. We know the table has a slight downcurve due to the 1 mm space margin between each connection point. The longer the table, the bigger the downcurve. When combining two or more tables together to form one big table, you have four extra legs at your disposal. These extra four legs are used to give extra support to the table. See the picture below.

Two MGT sets combined together to form one big table

You need adjustable legs to span the distance without disturbing the downcurve, otherwise you get a "telephone line" effect which might push the gameboards apart from each other. Adjusting the outer legs at a higher level and the inner legs at a lower level, prevents the "telephone line" effect from happening.

The leg consists out of three components. The aluminium bar, a metal-threaded insert and a standard machine feet. All of which are easily replaceable when damaged.

The parts that form up an adjustable leg.

MGT Update 2 - WAF

Good news everybody, the first MGT set has just been claimed by none other than Thantsants himself! Not familiar with him or his work? Be sure sure to check out his blog Somewhere the Tea's getting cold.

But, we're not out of the woods yet. 9 more tables need to be claimed for the campaign to be successful. Now, I'm sure you're all trying hard to convince your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend or yourself that you really need a MGT set. To help you with the challenge I've summed up a couple of pointers to win the argument.

1. Be sure to mention that the table can be stored and tucked away out of sight when not used. Occupied space can be reclaimed!
2. Got an old table? Compromise and exchange the old for a new one. This one worked really well for me. It got me to do the project in the first place.
3. Promise to do better, to change, give something in return.
4. It's an unique oppertunity, a one time deal, you earn this, don't let them take this away from you!
5. Be creative...

Got any good tips you want to share with us? Feel free to comment.

MGT Update 1 - 3D gaming

Managing a kickstarter Indiegogo campaign comes with great responsibility. One of such responsibilities is to keep the campaign alive. According to the Indiegogo Team one should post update's every 2 days. This will ensure people won't lose interest, I hope. So, for the next couple of days you'll be hearing from me everywhere you go. Please don't blame me, I'm just following orders.

My first update is about 3D gaming. I wrote about this a bit in the post Modular Gaming Table: Part 11. At the time I demonstrated the table in a 2x2 layered configuration. Not particularly the ideal setup when playing in 3D, because you wouldn't be able to reach all parts of the table. This post will demonstrate a configuration better suited for 3D gaming.

The two pictures below show a two-layered configuration which can be made from one MGT set. Both players can stand at either side of the table and still be able to reach all parts. The table can represent a variety of things like a dungeon, space hulk, building or an underground complex. Obviously my boards don't represent any one of these and specific boards must be made for that.

I hope this demonstrates some of the possibilities, enough to spark your imagination?

two-layered 1x3 straight setup

two-layered 1x3 corner setup

Indie Go Go Go...

First of all I would like to thank everyone for taking their time to vote. Although the poll has not ended yet, I think it's safe to say the results are more or less known.

I'm not entirely sure whether or not the results of the poll are accurate. The poll seemed to be stuck somewhere around the 60 votes and votes seemed to come and go? I'm no expert on polls, but aren't votes supposed to be permanent?

Whatever the case, we know 57 of the 60 votes voted in favor. The majority of the votes voted "Yes, but only if the price is right". That last part got me busy during the last few of weeks, in which I did all the research necessary for producing and delivering a table. All steps of the process are mapped out and documented. Producing a single table at a time is costly, but ordering a batch lowers the price considerably and allows me to offer it for a reasonable price.

I have decided a crowd funding campaign would be the ideal place to kickstart this project and start raising funds. I created an campaign on the Indiegogo fundraising platform. The campaign will run for 45 days. The goal is to raise enough money to order at least 10 or more tables. All contributions are refunded if I fail to meet this goal. Production starts when the campaign ends and the goal is reached.

Now without further ado, I present you the "Modular Gaming Table" campaign.

To be successful this campaign need to be relayed in many places. For this to happen I'm counting on you to help spread the word around you.

Even if you don't have any direct interest in a MGT, or if you cannot afford to support the effort financially, It will be greatly appreciated that you spread the word around (on your blogs, on forums, everywhere you may see fit, but please no spam!)

Polling for Possibilities

It's been two months since my last post and to be honest I haven't got anything to show. Well at least not on this blog. Gaj down over at "Warhammer for Adults" is working his socks off to deliver us with reports from the remote game "The Bridge over the River Chai", which we've been playing these last three months.

Running the game took all my hobby time and even if there was time I couldn't spend it on painting, because the gaming table was standing in front of my painting table. Now that the game is finished, I'm back working on a project I started before this whole modular gaming table thing happened. I'll go into more detail on this in another post.

The reason for this post is of a different nature. Ever since I've finished the Modular Gaming Table I've been entertaining myself with the thought of making it comercially available. To be clear, I'm talking about the table, not the panels. There're a lot of things to consider before starting such a thing. One of such things is to find out whether there's a demand for it.

To find out I've setup a poll asking some basic questions. I'll let it run for 80 days and find out whether it's worth persuing or not. Thank you for your time.

A Modular Gaming Table

Storage option

With panels

Storage with panels

Modular Gaming Table: Part 15

Before we start with the demonstration, I would like to show a modification I made to the table. The first post of the series, shows a method for stabilizing the legs with side bars. See picture below:

The above method has shortcomings. Not all of the bars are interchangeable, they're difficult to attach/detach and sometimes they simply fall out. This is why I replaced them with aluminium bars. Both ends of the aluminium bars have a canoe-clip attached to it. This allows them to be clicked in place, instead of hooked. This creates a solid connection with the table and offers a much sturdier solution.

A canoe-clip

Frame (large) and leg (small) connection bar

Inside and outside side bars

The connection bars for the legs have been shortened, otherwise they would interact with the canoe-clips. The shortened connection bars can only be used for the storage setup, but not for connecting frames. This poses no problem, because not all of the connection bars are used in a complete table setup.

Frame with shortened connection bar

Frame with leg

Leg with side bars for extra support and stability

Now, let's get on with the demonstration... What does the table look like when stored?

Two sets of 6 frames and panels in storage mode

Some might have noticed a slight difference between the backdrops above and the ones I've posted my previous post. I actually made them 5 cm shorter, because the photo was too high. I should have tried it out first on some piece of paper before plotting it.

I started out with the BIG one, using four legs in each corner and four legs in the middle. During the setup I noticed that the four legs in the middle disrupted the slight downcurve of the table. This caused the panels to not align properly. Removing the extra four legs in middle solved the problem. Although I could have used the extra legs on the sides, the table seemed to hold out well with only four legs in each corner.

Below you can see the configuration setup I've used and some pictures.

Config 4x3 x13:y13

All the panels without scenery

All the panels with scenery and some miniatures

Photo shoot at the river

Photo shoot at the hill

I really like the 3x2 setup. This is the setup I'm going to use most frequently. It requires one set of 6 panels and frames and can easily be taken along with you.

Config 3x2 x10:y35

Without scenery

With scenery

You think orcs can swim?

Just look at it. Ain't it a sight to see?

Well, this concludes it, the last post of the "Modular Gaming Table" series. It took me about one year to finish, and I'm glad and relieved I finally did. I didn't take count of the actual time I've put into the project. Probably way too much, of which most was spent in research and figuring out how to go on.

Doing large projects like these can be straining, especially when you're married with children. Planning everything upfront, keeping a tight schedule and dividing all the required tasks in units of one hour, allowed me to use the available time as efficiently as possible, keep myself motivated and most importantly letting the wife know of the progress.

I don't like to admit it, but I made mistakes, even despite all of my careful planning. Luckily for me, nothing so severe that couldn't be fixed. I guess it's the human factor we all have to live with. In the end I'm very happy with the results.

Finally, I would like to thank all my followers for their support and the kind comments they've left on the blog.

Whether orcs can swim or not, having made river panels I now realise units propably won't be able to cross without some properly made bridges. You've guessed it, I'll be making two bridges for my next project, so stay tuned...

Oh yeah, you might be seeing some more pictures of the table in a new battle report I'm planning with Gaj from over at the Warhammer for Adults blog. Progress on this will be posted on Gaj's blog.

Modular Gaming Table: Part 14

In my previous post, I've promised to demonstrate the table in all it's glory. While planning the various setups, I realised I was missing something.

When using the table for the purpose of photography, one needs a suitable backdrop to make a pleasing photograph. As the co-author of two remote gaming battle reports, I experimented with various methods. For the battle reports "It's fun to slay at the Wyemm Seeyay" and "The Shadow of Koles Lorr", I simply printed one out and glued it on a piece of cardboard. The cardbaord had a little footstand attached to it, allowing me to put it anywhere on the table wherever I needed it. Although it served its purpose, this method has shortcomings, for example: the limited size only allows close-up shots, corner shots are not possible and it lacks a tight fit, creating a space between the ground surface and the bottom of cardboard.

To make the table as complete as possible, I improved the above method somewhat by creating two backdrop panels. These panels use the same attachment principle as the borders, allowing me to attach them at the sides of a panel.

The plan

The panels are made out of Dibond. Dibond is a composite consisting of two sheets of .010" aluminum with a polyethylene core. It is intended for such applications as signage, exhibit/display as well as digital mounting. Available in 1/8" thickness. Lighter than than Aluminum and Plexiglas but also very durable and flexible.

3mm Dibond 

I bought a panoramic photograph on dreamstime, and plotted the photograph on the Dibond panels with a FUJIFILM Acuity Printer. I've got access to such a device at my work, but there are enough companies out there who offer this as a service. It costs around 60+ euro to print 120x30 cm.

The printer

The cutting of the placeholders for the male "Kugelschnaeppers" are done with a milling machine. Again, they have one of them at my work. I've made a video of this, because I think this is the kind of machine every wargamer would like to have in his man cave. Just listen to the sound of this thing:

The "Kugelschnaeppers" are glued in place with Epoxy. This seales the cut-outs and makes a solid connection.

After printing and cutting

Male "Kugelschnaepper" glued in place with Epoxy

Perfect fit

Corner setup

The concept seems to work, but while working on this, some other ideas on how to improve it formed in my mind. Also, I'm not completely sure about the scale of the backdrop, maybe I'll be creating some new panels in the future.

For now, these are the backdrop panels I'm going to use to make a proper demonstration of the table. To be continued...