Space to Play

Many of us dream of having a dedicated gaming space where we can play games without disrupting everyday life. The key feature of any gaming space is the game table, which after all, is where most of the action takes place.

Instead, we’re mostly forced to play in multi-purpose spaces on a table that isn’t designed for games or is going to be needed for countless other activities each day.

I’ve played Magic at kitchen tables where sticky surfaces made sleeves essential, and Ticket to Ride on a coffee table where the board hung over the edge and one jolt ruined the game for everyone, and I don’t want to think how much time we spent hunting fallen eggs playing Wyrmspan on an unsteady dining table.

A Great Game Table 

So what makes a great game table? It keeps the game on the table, speeds up play, and reduces distractions.

I imagine a soft fabric base so the gaming surface is comfortable and I’m not scrabbling to pick up cards or tokens. I want a recessed play area to keep minis, dice, and other components safe while we game. The subtle visual frame created by the recessed edge should feel like a window into another world and serve to keep me immersed in the action. It should fit a standard game board easily and still have space to roll dice, store tokens, and keep drinks off the surface. 

The more configurations it has the better as games and players come with different needs. The ability to customize the setup will add a lot to its usability, but it must also be durable enough to survive. With my groups, a gaming table is going to be leaned on by gamers excited to take their turn, thumped on at the end of a Paladin’s rousing speech, and suffer the impacts of countless tumbling Jenga pieces (dexterity games are not my thing).

Project Ironside

As you look at Project Ironside’s Kickstarter page and the Boxking’s website its quickly clear that these tables were made by gamers and with gamers in mind. They ticked every box that I was looking for in a table and then added so many extra touches that I hadn’t even thought of.

The soft neoprene inlay on the surface is such a clever choice, making it easy to pick things up, but they’ve gone further than that by creating double-sided versions with different terrains and themes. You can switch them out or flip them over to pick a theme that adds to the ambiance of your game or use them as the gaming surface itself. The card and component trays are modular and can be used to store anything you need and the drinks holders are great.

 

The table frames are made of coated steel resulting in a table that is incredibly robust and durable, but you’re not looking at industrial chic as the coating gives them a clean appearance and the surface is warm to the touch. 

The size is great as well, at 5x3 they happily accommodate a wide variety of game boards with plenty of room. I also can’t tell you how much I appreciate that they include adjustable feet; no matter where you set it up you’ll be able to get the table perfectly flat and wobble-free. 

The wooden topper panels are transformative. Turning a gamer’s dream into a modern table suitable for a kitchen or dining room. This is a great way to get twice the use out of the table and to store games in progress safely without making the space unusable. During a gaming session, you can even stop mid-game when takeout arrives, cover the game while you eat, and then get straight back into the action once you’re done. The designers however found several ways to make the toppers even more useful as they can be transformed into side tables for game boxes, rulebooks, and snacks, or into elevated sections that stand on the table surface adding significantly to your play area.

One of the best surprises among all this is the price. With other gaming tables running to thousands of dollars, these come in at just $399 for the base table and because of the customization options, you can add to it in stages as your budget allows. Speaking of adding to them...

Extending the Game

These are also extendable board game tables. This is the real game changer, something I’ve not seen from other gaming table setups, and really elevates the Project Ironside tables.

In no time at all you can connect a small extension to create a 3x7 game table. This lets you expand your seating and play space to accommodate up to eight people. Alternatively, using a second table, you can create a 3x10 that seats ten and is perfect for social games or big family dinners. Or you can join them to create a 6x5 table for games with a huge footprint or sprawling RPGs where you want character sheets, rule books, and a large battle map for a session. 

Conversion kits are even available to change the table’s height, from bar stool to coffee table giving you even more flexibility. Even better, because it takes just minutes to construct or reassemble these extendable board game tables you can have exactly what you need when you need it.

Conclusions

We may not all be able to have a reserved gaming space, but you might be able to get a great game table that lies at the heart of that dream. Project Ironside’s extendable board game tables combine the functionality and durability we need with the flexibility to ensure it's not an extravagance, but a practical piece of furniture with multiple possible uses.

With the right table, you can convert a space typically used for the most mundane of purposes into a room where you fight deadly battles, challenge the gods, and complete epic challenges, all while enjoying a good time with your friends.