Carcassonne tabletop

[thescottishguy]

I've recently managed to get most of my friends hooked on Carcassonne and since we already gather on tuesday nights we've basically been playing a weekly game. We generally let each person playing pick an expansion to include, this has led to some big games. Our kitchen table is just 3ft by 3ft so I decided I'd build a tabletop that could be used when we play carc and then stored when not needed.

I started out with 2 sheets fo 3/4 plywood, I used 2ft by 4ft sheets rather than a single 4x4 sheet so that they would be easily stored when not in use.


Initially I just put some blocks on 2 opposite corners under the tabletop to test the functionality, these corners along with some decorative hasps was all it took to get a 4x4 table that seems like it should be big enough for "most" games.



Once I had worked out the basics I decided I'd like to improve the underside of the table by adding full rails rather than just corners. I also decided I'd like to felt the table. I had considered staining the plywood and trimming the edges but chose to felt it since I reckon it'll be easier. I may make a nice fancy wood top down the road. I chose black felt rather than the classic green since I thought it would be easier to see the prime spots for tile placement on black rather than green .




The project is pretty simple and took just a few hours of time but I thought I'd share it with some like minded Carcassonne fans here.

[MrBlu]

Looks very cool!  I did something similar for our gaming nights, but not quite a nice as yours.  I took a 4ft by 4ft piece and made it into an octogon shape, with 8 equal sides.  I felted that with navy blue.  The first one I made started as two sheets that were 2ft x 4ft.  I cut those into a hexagon shape and hinged them together. 

I was recently thinking of making another one for Carc, and it was going to be pretty much like yours.  I like your ridges on the bottom though, that might be something to think about.

Great job!!!!

[CARC_Zoner]

Once I had worked out the basics I decided I'd like to improve the underside of the table by adding full rails rather than just corners. I also decided I'd like to felt the table. I had considered staining the plywood and trimming the edges but chose to felt it since I reckon it'll be easier. I may make a nice fancy wood top down the road. I chose black felt rather than the classic green since I thought it would be easier to see the prime spots for tile placement on black rather than green .

That's a great project!  The felt should help keep the tiles orderly, too.  An inadvertent bump can turn a regular game into "Carcassonne: Earthquake" rather quickly..... 

CARC_Zoner

[Scott]

Regarding number of sides, wouldn't a hexagon-shape be optimal? The max number of players is 6, assuming no custom meeples. I'm not criticizing anybody that has made or is making a four-sided tabletop; just throwing it out there for consideration by future tabletop builders.

[thescottishguy]

Scott, I agree, a hexagon table would be ideal, I actually thought about building this one hexagonal but decided to make it as big as would fit in our space without making my wife roll her eyes at me too much.

The way we generally end up playing is one or two to a side with the fourth side being used for the scoreboard, spare bits and so on.  We often have someone that's not playing the game but acts as scorekeeper and a sort of "GameMaster" for our games who'll sit at the fourth table edge and make sure people remember their fairy points etc...

[Scott]

Compromise with the wife means not building cupholders into the tabletop.

[CKorfmann]

Compromise with the wife means not building cupholders into the tabletop.

    Truth.

Merit point again for the table pics.  Thanks for sharing!

[Ailurus]

I like it, good thinking about the color of the felt, I agree green wouldn't work that well . Do you already have a picture of your table "in action"? By the way, did you notice my topic about the table I created? I never even thought about felt, because I wanted to include the Carcassonne logo, no idea how to do that with felt (you could laser it, but then the tiles would be at different depths)...

[thescottishguy]

Ailurus; your table was what made me want a carc specific table, My initial plan was to have the table be wooden, maybe varnished or stained and have a grid on it for quick layout, the felt came to me late in planning

I'll have in action pics up next week after our weekly game night as watching hockey took over last night.

[Scott]

Considering casino tabletop felt has designs printed on them, there must be some way of printing a Carc logo on the felt. Would probably have to find a company to do it though.

Besides looking awesome, felt is handy for reducing movement of the tiles when somebody bumps the table.

[thescottishguy]

A quick google tells me that screenprinting on felt is totally possible. I might need to hit up some of my art nerd friends.

[teichrod]

Could you make a stencil and spraypaint the logo (or whatever) on the felt?  Or would that tend to wear off over time?  

I'm going to make this exact table, I've been thinking about ideas for a few weeks and this looks the best for my needs.  The only modification I might make is to make it a hexagon. Thanks!

[joshgambit]

Totally need to make one of these.  VERY cool!

Merit point for you!

[teichrod]

Made this table last night, only used hinges instead of the hasps to make it one foldable table.  It's a little heavy to maneuver, but otherwise I think it should work pretty well. 

[thescottishguy]

teichrod; got any pics? how did you set it to hinge?

I'm planning to add hinges to mine but not sure where to hinge it. I'm thinking probably on the underside of the rails.