Update 6 - 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?

Update 5 - 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 NOT included and are intended for demonstration purposes only.

Update 4 - 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.

 2.

 3.

4.

5.

Having two MGT sets opens up a whole set of configurations. One of such is the "star" configuration shown below.

Update 3 - 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.

Update 2 - WAF:

It seems like the campaign is starting to take off. Many thanks for your contributions. This leaves us with only 6 more tables to go!

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.

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.

Update 1 - 3D Gaming:

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 pictures below show two two-layered configuration types 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?

Introduction

My name is Alex Koning, I'm 32 years old and I live with my familiy in the Netherlands. At the start of 2012 I designed and developed a Modular Gaming Table. Enthusiastic reactions inspired me to look for ways to make it available to others.

What's a Modular Gaming Table?

It's a configurable table with four or more legs consisting out of separable 2'x2' sections.

The table is designed to support (modular) gaming boards, but can be used for a variety of things;

The table is configurable and can be endlessly expanded, to form up an array of table configurations.

The table has two modes:

• table mode
• storage mode

This campaign is not about the development of the table, but getting it to your doorstep as cheap as possible!

The table has already proven itself to work. An in depth explanation of the Modular Gaming Table series can be found on my personal blog.

The gallery section shows some pictures of the prototype table. These pictures were taken during the development and differ slightly from the actual table.

Please take a look at the instruction manual or videos to get a detailed description on how to setup a MGT.

• Instruction manual - table mode
• Instruction manual - storage mode
• Demonstration video - 2x3 table (construction)
• Demonstration video - 2x3 table (deconstruction)
• Demonstration video - storage (construction)

Why a Modular Gaming Table?

Safe space: to store the table when it's not needed

Protection: to protect and to safely store your (modular) gaming boards

Mobility: to take the table along to gaming clubs or friends

Configurability: to setup and configure various table sizes

3D-gaming: to make multi-level gaming a reality!

What I Need & What You Get

I need an order of at least 10 MGT sets to offer the table at the mentioned price. All contributions are refunded if I fail to meet this goal. Production starts when the campaign ends and the goal has been reached.

Perks are divided into two types: standard and double perks. A standard perk gives you one MGT set and a double perk gives you two MGT sets.

A MGT set contains the following:

• 2x frame type A
• 4x frame type B
• 4x table legs
• 4x short connection bars
• 20x long connection bars
• 8x support bars
• 16x extra canoe-clips
• 1x instruction manual

One MGT set allows you to setup a table between 2'x2' and 4'x6' feet.

NOTE: Gaming boards shown on the pictures are NOT included!

All orders are expected to be shipped by the end of November 2013.

Packaging & Shipment

Each MGT set will be bubble wrap packed in a 65x30x65cm cardboard box and weighs about 11Kg.

Perks are sub-divided into three zones for shipment to countries inside the EU. These are: EU1, EU2 and EU3. Below you can see a list of countries for each zone.

Shipments within the Netherlands are free of charge.

EU1

Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Spain, United Kingdom & Sweden

EU2

Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia & Czechia

EU3

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Channel Islands, Kosovo, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malta, Moldavia, Montenegro, Norway, Ukraine, San Marino, Serbia, Turkey, Vatican City, White Russia & Switzerland

World

Please contact me for international shipping fees. Due to size and weight restrictions, shipping fees varies by country.

Specifications

Below some technical specifications of the table:

• Material: Aluminium
• Coating: Powder Coating
• Total weight: 10 Kg
• Min/max table height: 79/86 cm
• Frame size: 61x61 cm (2'x2' feet)
• Safe maximum weight: 21 Kg *
• Downcurve without boards: 6/7 mm **
• Downcurve with 3,5 Kg boards: 14/15 mm **
• Table stability: 5 mm ***
• Max height between frames (storage mode): 11 cm

*) The maximum weight is tested on a 2x3 configuration with six boards each weighing 3,5 Kg. The actual maximum weight has not been tested and might easily exceed 21 Kg.

**) Between each connection bar and frame there's 1 mm of movement space. This causes the table to bend downwards. A 2x3 table setup without boards has a downcurve of 6/7 mm measured from the centre and 14/15 mm with six 3,5 Kg boards.

***) Between each connection bar and frame there's 1 mm of movement space. This causes the table to move a little. The table has a 5 mm movement margin in all directions.

I need your help!

To be successful in this campaign, it need to be relayed in as many places as possible. For this to happen I am counting on your assistance spreading the word.

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

This project could be the beginning of, a stable production of MGT's.

Have you got any questions?

I'm here to help if you have any questions. You can contact me at: mgt@dreamfish.nl