I have been playing around with different configurations for a custom table and wanted to note some things I’ve landed on that I really like. A main one thing is having the map mounted so that it can slide around as needed on top of a bigger playing area. My table is 65” x 95” in total with a 5.5” arm rest around the outside and the middle is a recessed neoprene surface. I have the OOB Global map mounted on 1/2” rigid foam with a 1/2” aluminum frame around it. This allows the map to slide up close to whoever’s turn it is, but then be in the middle so both players can roll dice In front of them without disturbing the map and in easy view of the other player. (Plus we like lots of room to roll the bones). This ability to adjust the surface along with a standing height, makes it comfortable for long uses because you can move around more and don’t feel as tied down.
Things I’ve learned and changed from original design - I originally used too big of a frame for the map and mounted it on too high of a foam block (you can see these pictures at the bottom) - it made it hard to see the other player’s dice and the big frame took up too much real estate. My global map is mounted on much thinner foam (the framing is bad, you can see if you look closely) but I also used much thinner aluminum angle for the frame. This gives just enough grip when needing to move the map around (I use furniture slides on the bottom, which glide very nicely on the neoprene) but doesn’t make the whole thing too bulky. Having it an inch or so off the surface keeps the dice off, but isn’t so heigh that you can’t see the other player’s dice rolls. When playing other versions (such as Zombies) the board is much smaller, but it can easily swap in and out on the same table since it can move around where ever it is needed or be pushed aside.
I originally made it normal table height, but found long reaches while sitting were harder and it just felt cramped. Standing height with a bar stool is a great way to have the best of both worlds.
The 5.5” rim around the table itself gives you a nice arm rest that doesn’t interfere with the gaming surface. I’m playing with how to best add some cushion to this part - open to suggestions. Sometimes I just lay a piece of leftover neoprene on it.
Dice bounce nice on the neoprene and stay off the floor. It also feels nice and has enough give to allow things to slide but be picked up easily. Wouldn’t definitely go with neoprene again as a surface covering.
I made the drawers open to the inside of the table so you can stay hunched over the action while accessing and stowing stuff away. 50/50 on whether I would keep this if I were to do it again. If I were doing it again, I might try to build customer drawers form scratch using actual drawer glides, but that was beyond my ability when I first did this, so I just used clear plexiglass boxes with aluminum pulls mounted on them. It’s nice having them clear, and I was happy with how the pulls came out, but without glides they can be a little fussy sliding in and out of their slots.
I originally designed the table so that I could put a cover surface back on top when not in use, but find I don’t really ever do that, so if I were to do it again, I might not mess with that part (I never even finished staining those as you can see in the pictures).
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Rammstein's Custom Vinyl Maps - The better way to play
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Imperious Leader '17 '16 '15 Organizer '14 Customizer '13 '12 '11 '10last edited by May 14, 2014, 5:05 AM
I like the color changes for 1914. Interesting choice for UK and Ottoman
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Great looking maps, Rammstein. Nice crisp detail, good colour choices and plenty of elbow room.
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I WANT ONE! Wow, these look fantastic. I also like how you set it up like an infomercial lol.
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Heh, I guess it does sound like an infomercial.
I suppose if there is one drawback to these maps is that you need a large table to play on. But most serious gamers will have that base covered. I kind of like standing over the board and moving pieces around, makes you feel like you’re in a war room deciding the fate of the world :evil:
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I would seriously be willing to pay any one of you to have one of these made for me that has worked with a proven print shop that will do quality work. I’d pay (in USD)for the expenses of having it made as well as a little extra for the effort…OR put me in contact with a print shop one of you has used that’s proven and I can make some phone calls/emails and knock it out from there. Any takers?
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Imperious Leader '17 '16 '15 Organizer '14 Customizer '13 '12 '11 '10last edited by May 14, 2014, 6:48 PM
You just download the maps and print them off. What is difficult? Visit Variants or ask the lad to get you links to what you need.
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I can’t download anything on my work computer (military) and all I have at home is an iPAD. So it can be complicated.
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Imperious Leader '17 '16 '15 Organizer '14 Customizer '13 '12 '11 '10last edited by May 14, 2014, 9:50 PM
No. just get the link you need and contact AAA flag and banner. They will accept a link and mail you a print of what you need. I know they do this because they did it for me.
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WW1 1914
Finally, armies will fit into the embattled territories. And no more of the god awful oob chips that came with this game.
Whoah cool, that’s the 1914 map Imperious Leader created for me and I updated. Glad it’s getting use, my gaming group LOVES it! I don’t even remember uploading it, where did you get it? I upload so many mods for lots of games I lose track what I uploaded where. :-D
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Man, I don’t even remember where I got it. Off of the forums somewhere. I had it saved from before I even thought about printing maps lol.
But yes it’s great. It removes a lot of confusion for newer players, and even myself.
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How can I get one of your WW I 1914 vinyl maps
I had my map enlarged to twice it’s size and bought
Extra pieces so I don’t have to use those dreaded poker chipsBryan Leshinskie
We are playing world war I 1914 at my club in reading
Pennsylvania. …And everyone loves the game with the changes I made
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Been wanting to do this for quite a while now. For those of you that have printed the 1940 map recently, how much did it cost you? I’ve been calling a few local print shops, and it’s looking like I’ll need to pull a second mortgage!!! Most quotes seem to be around the $400 range for a print out that’s around 4’x8’. Thanks guys.
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Regarding prices, here are some quotes that I got from two different Southern California print shops (I had posted this also on the thread entitled Ambilzi & Grasshopper’s 1940 Global Map)
The first print shop provided the following estimates (note the $52 set up fee):
SET UP: $52.05 ( digital color file set up, latex printer set up)
48" x 105" vinyl $142.63 print digital color 4/0 on white smooth vinyl (15oz)
48" x 105" canvas $300.13 print digital color 4/0 on canvas
48" x 105" versa fabric $273.88 print digital color 4/0 on versa fabric
53" x 116" vinyl $174.63 print digital color 4/0 on white smooth vinyl (15oz)
53" x 116" canvas $368.13 print digital color 4/0 on canvas
53" x 116" versa fabric $335.88 please note: print cannot be any larger, printing on a 54" rolld
A second set of quotes from a different Southern California printing company for printing on vinyl (the type of material used for advertising banners):
48"x105" , white 64" Roland EcoSol Banner, solvent 6 color Roland 4sf $230.80
53"x116", white 64" Roland EcoSol Banner, solvent 6 color Roland 4sf $258.78
56"x122.5", white 64" Roland EcoSol Banner, solvent 6 color Roland 4sf $277.42
(I might check on the AliBaba website to see what I can find for printing services in China. Also, I’m checking on the possibility of printing on upholstery vinyl and marine vinyl).