Tv in gaming table and general gaming table advice

[Zaukrie]

You always read not to lay a tv on its side, but many people build gaming tables with TVs in them. Do we know how long these TVs last? I am just about done finishing the basement, and one of the rooms will have dedicated gaming space. I'd like to convert my gaming table, which is just a dining table, into something nicer for gaming.

I'm considering a tv lying on it's side, but I'm not sure . I'd like to lower the table, then add an elbow rest all around at the normal height. Maybe removable cup holders. I'm curious what you love or want from your table. I feel like the elbow rest should hold books, but then the table would be so wide in not sure you could reach the middle....

 

[payn]

If you are really worried about a flat TV you could hang a projector above and just shoot the map onto a white sheet.

I actually sit for work quite a bit so prefer standing wargame table myself. Put it on casters for easy move and leave spots for stowing gear.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

You always read not to lay a tv on its side, but many people build gaming tables with TVs in them. Do we know how long these TVs last? I am just about done finishing the basement, and one of the rooms will have dedicated gaming space. I'd like to convert my gaming table, which is just a dining table, into something nicer for gaming.

I'm considering a tv lying on it's side, but I'm not sure . I'd like to lower the table, then add an elbow rest all around at the normal height. Maybe removable cup holders. I'm curious what you love or want from your table. I feel like the elbow rest should hold books, but then the table would be so wide in not sure you could reach the middle....

We have had a campaign with my pal going on three years and the TV in the table still works great.

It is a sunken area with a raised table top around the edge with cup holders etc. works great

 

[Warpiglet-7]

We have had a campaign with my pal going on three years and the TV in the table still works great.

It is a sunken area with a raised table top around the edge with cup holders etc. works great

I would add pts plexiglass over the tv screen no toe which we place minis

 

[Zaukrie]

If you are really worried about a flat TV you could hang a projector above and just shoot the map onto a white sheet.

I actually sit for work quite a bit so prefer standing wargame table myself. Put it on casters for easy move and leave spots for stowing gear.

I'm not that worried.... More wondering how it's working for people that have one. Or, how big do you want your table, so you can easily reach the middle? Do you have room for books or character sheets? What's an ideal table, I just started with the TV question for some reason.

 

[Bunch]

I'm not that worried.... More wondering how it's working for people that have one. Or, how big do you want your table, so you can easily reach the middle? Do you have room for books or character sheets? What's an ideal table, I just started with the TV question for some reason.

I've had mine for 6 years. The TV is actually used very infrequently but is still working. I have a plexiglass cover over it like another poster mentioned. I supported the back of the TV in several spaces. Seems fine. I think the warning about placing it horizontal vs vertical is more a case of they dont test TVs horizontal so they don't know what it might do.

 

[Mad_Jack]

Part of the warning is because they design most technological things in a particular orientation and thus they're sort of like swords - used correctly the sword will do its job easily, but try hitting something with the side of the sword and you could easily shatter it. Not being built for use horizontally, most of the circuits and other electronic bits have attachments and connectors that can easily get bent or broken just by having to hold those pieces in place in the wrong orientation over extended periods of time. And for anything that generates heat, leaving something horizontal can block proper venting and cause it to overheat. Etc., etc., etc....

(Also, they assume that part of the process of a flatscreen becoming horizontal involves it being dropped (even if just from a couple of inches), and possibly getting stepped on or having heavy things stacked on it.)


For a gaming table, the big thing is not putting too much weight on an unsupported flatscreen as they don't flex very well - thus the suggestions of covering it in plexiglass. Design-wise, you'll probably need at least a foot and a half of distance between the edge of the screen and the edge of the table anywhere someone will be sitting or standing, and probably at least two-to-three feet of space from elbow-to-elbow for each person (assuming people of general average size).

 

[Ryujin]

If you are really worried about a flat TV you could hang a projector above and just shoot the map onto a white sheet.

I actually sit for work quite a bit so prefer standing wargame table myself. Put it on casters for easy move and leave spots for stowing gear.

I considered that but realized it would mean every time that someone interacted with the table, they would block the projection. Instead I took a piece of plexiglass and put some frosted film on it, then built a table with a cut-out to fit the plexiglass into. I then made a 45 degree mirror to go under the table and projected the image onto the bottom of the plexi, off the mirror. We used it for about 5 years.

 

[Gecko85]

We've been using the same tv-in-a-table for the past 6+ years. Still going strong.

 

[R_J_K75]

If you are really worried about a flat TV you could hang a projector above and just shoot the map onto a white sheet.

I considered that but realized it would mean every time that someone interacted with the table, they would block the projection.

One of my player's got a projector from work the company was throwing out. We looked into this and I watched a video on how to set it up. It was quite a while ago so I couldn't find the YouTube video if I tried. The person who made the video said that if you just project something directly from above it distorts the image. There was a certain type of mirror that wasnt your typical mirror just sprayed on the back, the whole mirror was reflective. Anyhow they said hang the mirror at a 45-degree angle, then to project the image on the mirror which projected it on the table. The whole premise seemed pretty strange and the bulbs for that model were pretty expensive. We never bothered trying it, seemed more trouble than it's worth. I can't vouch for the validity of this though.