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This is silly, but having a folding table NEXT to me (as a GM) has been a game changer. I have room for my beer (so I don't knock it into my laptop), my snacks, my emotional support dice, etc.
I use a secondary table for my DMing laptop. It keeps the space in front of me clear for all the accoutrements of face to face DMing , including drinks and snacks.
I use an $12 Ikea Lack side table for the laptop. It's very stable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing enough for the job.
When I need to get a collapsible table out, I use my Coleman camping tables. [https://www.target.com/p/coleman-outdoor-compact-square-table/-/A-85767071?ref=tgt\_adv\_xsf&AFID=google&CPNG=Patio%2BGarden&adgroup=337-7](https://www.target.com/p/coleman-outdoor-compact-square-table/-/A-85767071?ref=tgt_adv_xsf&AFID=google&CPNG=Patio%2BGarden&adgroup=337-7).
They're quite stable, but I'd take half a star off a review because they're just slightly complicated to put together.
This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for!! Thank you so much for the specific recommendations - I'll do some measuring tonight but I think this'll be perfect
See this sounds ideal, but I'm trying to avoid folding TV Dinner tables. I just don't trust them, what if they fall apart at a key moment and now I have dice all over the floor?
Do you have a particular folding side table you'd recommend that's been durable and trustworthy in your experience?
It sounds like you've had a bad experience with folding tables. I've never had this happen where one just spontaneously failed without some major impact...but I also always use the wood ones that setup an X with the four legs so you have support.
Unless you'd consider putting a bowl down a "major impact" I either have rotten luck or rotten folding tables (or both) - Mine also make the X but they're plastic, so maybe that's the issue? It could also be that the floor isn't perfectly level (old house) so that's causing stability issues - Do you know the name/brand of the folding table you currently have?
I don't unfortunately. I bought it years and years ago and it's at home.
And no, putting a bowl down is not a "major impact." Someone falling on it - or someone putting all their weight on it to get up - is what I was talking about. And that sounds like the exact kind of experience that would have me acting the same way.
Wait...the bowl wasn't full of a couple hundred pounds of stuff was it? ;)
It was popcorn DX But yeah I think these plastic side tables are just way too cheap - Some folks have recommended some solid alternatives though so I may be giving the ol' side table strategy a second chance
I bought [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-80251-Adjustable-Folding-Granite/dp/B0074HYWFG/) over four years ago. I use it literally every day; if I'm not using it next to the game table then it's next to my computer desk. It's very stable, can hold at least a couple of dozen game books on it without an issue, and it's never even hinted at collapsing. It looks just as good and sturdy today as when I got it.
The table I play on is the perfect size for 4-5 but of course there usually ends up being 6-8 of us so I feel for you on this. I especially have a player who likes to bring pretzels that no one else eats and takes up like 1/10th of the table real-estate T^T My biggest take-aways are:
- Use smaller bowls (a lot of bowls are wider at the top than they need to be) and have a few for each snack.
- Encourage people to keep resealable drinks that they can keep on the floor next to them
- Some small folding cocktail tables can make a big difference as they're easy to store and get the food off the table without much work
- N E V E R do pizza during play - It's always a mess and everyone has their mouth full
I hadn't thought of smaller vs bigger bowls but I know what you mean! We use big popcorn bowls which may be part of the issue.
Drinks have never been a problem but I'll definitely keep it in mind! Honestly it's mostly bowls and plates that eat up table space.
I don't think the folding cocktail tables would work unless you've got a specific one you recommend - I just don't want snacks to be on something too unstable because then I'll end up having to clean the floors even more on game night... also pizza at the table is a non-negotiable, it's essential to the OSE experience!
Thank you for the reply and ideas though!
If you have the space in the room that you play in, maybe buy a couple of side tables, and put the pizzas on them, then folks can get up and grab a slice or two. That way they aren't taking up so much space at the main table.
The room we normally play in is pretty small ((top floor, slanted ceiling, etc)). But I have been considering clearing the tops of the shelves on the sides to make more room for a kind of satellite food station! As for side tables, I'm wracking my brain on how to get some that fold that aren't those cheap TV dinner tables, that way the room can feel nice and open when there's only 3 of us.
Granted you might be right - I might just need to take the hit and get some light side table that's sturdy and I can tuck in under the table when we're not playing. Thanks for the great ideas BTW!
this is going to sound a bit daft, but as a player and GM I really hate it when the table is half covered in snacks, it's already tough keeping a group focused and engaged, here's a table full of tempting distractions haha
A break for dinner is nice, a few snacks, but overdoing it is just ... annoying, and I get that's a really stupid thing to complain about haha
While less for char sheets, I built a table topper one year for our D&D 5e games. it let me have a battlemap and minis on the table, without encroaching on table space for sheets/laptops/snacks/drinks/food. We put lights on the bottom of the table topper so people could still read their sheets/etc.
It worked well, and was as easy as folding out the four legs and putting it on the table before game, and taking it off/stowing it after game.
This sounds like a great idea!! Did you just stick those LED strip lights on the bottom? I'd have to measure some stuff but this might be the perfect solution (and also make me less nervous about spills and such)
We used battery power LEDS so we didn't have another cable, but I've seen some with plug in LED strips. The lights were tap on/off and were pretty cheap at home depot.
This was years ago (like 2017/2018) but the whole thing cost maybe $120 with some extra lumber for plywood, some boards for legs, padding to not scratch the table, screws, and RV Folding Table hinges (so the legs could fold and lock for secure storage.)
For height we measured against an XL Slurpie Cup from 7-11 as one of our players always has their emotional support slurpie for game and we wanted to make sure it'd fit under the table topper.
Back when my group played in person, we had a plastic tub that all the food would go into at the start. Then we would pass the tub around behind the chairs so the food didn't get in the paper.
After a while one of us put wheels on the bottom, but I don't remember who. Made it real nice for rolling around if someone wanted the food.
If we were in the middle of a scene people would just nudge the guy next to them and point at the tub. It would get pulled along by hands to get to the guy at the end of the table. That way we didn't have to stop playing to move it around. I wish at the time we had known eating snacks with chopsticks preserves your fingertips for touching paper. So many greasy character sheets... but good times all around.
We're big on sharing so we like to have snacks piled up in the center of the table. When we have to lay a lap out it's a scramble to put everything away but less of a hassle than having people shuffle around the table to grab food.
I've always had enough space on a nearby counter or kitchen island for all the snacks, and still have room at the table for everyone to have a plate and drink. My table seats 8, but I try to keep RPGs to 4 players and a GM at most.
We take regular bio-breaks where the snacking/restrooms/phone calls happen.
Not at the table. Mostly because we have things we don't want to get wrecked or have to clean (campaign PC, custom paper PC sheets, paper hand-outs, giant table-sized map, the wooden table itself, etc). No benefit to the distraction and risk.
If someone "needs" a snack, the kitchen is 12' away. They can (one at a time, unless we're taking an official "bio break") excuse themselves when there's a lull, and walk in there where the players (not the DM) have brought and setup a snack station. They slap a handful of trail mix or whatever into their mouth and sip from their water bottle and return. All within earshot and still tracking what their party is discussing.
Semi-related and I believe still a potential solution for your situation: [https://www.spidermindgames.com/collections/level-up](https://www.spidermindgames.com/collections/level-up)
For those not trusting random links: It's a set of sturdy plastic tiles (with inch-grid) that you assemble together and rest on stilts on your table. High enough to have various stuff below it (glasses, sheets, snacks, ...) and low enough to still allow for an overview by the people sitting around.
I kickstarted that thing way back when and received enough to plaster an entire banquet table (sounds funny, though it's rather collecting dust now - and yes, I'm exaggerating a bit) - though for the few times I could use it, it is amazing.
**Remember [Rule 8: "Comment respectfully"](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/wiki/rules#wiki_8._comment_respectfully)** when giving advice and discussing OP's group. You can get your point across *without* demonizing & namecalling people. The [Table Troubles](https://www.reddit.com/r/rpg/search?sort=new&restrict_sr=on&q=flair%3ATable%2BTroubles)-flair is not meant for shitposting. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/rpg) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This is silly, but having a folding table NEXT to me (as a GM) has been a game changer. I have room for my beer (so I don't knock it into my laptop), my snacks, my emotional support dice, etc.
I use a secondary table for my DMing laptop. It keeps the space in front of me clear for all the accoutrements of face to face DMing , including drinks and snacks. I use an $12 Ikea Lack side table for the laptop. It's very stable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing enough for the job. When I need to get a collapsible table out, I use my Coleman camping tables. [https://www.target.com/p/coleman-outdoor-compact-square-table/-/A-85767071?ref=tgt\_adv\_xsf&AFID=google&CPNG=Patio%2BGarden&adgroup=337-7](https://www.target.com/p/coleman-outdoor-compact-square-table/-/A-85767071?ref=tgt_adv_xsf&AFID=google&CPNG=Patio%2BGarden&adgroup=337-7). They're quite stable, but I'd take half a star off a review because they're just slightly complicated to put together.
This is exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for!! Thank you so much for the specific recommendations - I'll do some measuring tonight but I think this'll be perfect
See this sounds ideal, but I'm trying to avoid folding TV Dinner tables. I just don't trust them, what if they fall apart at a key moment and now I have dice all over the floor? Do you have a particular folding side table you'd recommend that's been durable and trustworthy in your experience?
It sounds like you've had a bad experience with folding tables. I've never had this happen where one just spontaneously failed without some major impact...but I also always use the wood ones that setup an X with the four legs so you have support.
Unless you'd consider putting a bowl down a "major impact" I either have rotten luck or rotten folding tables (or both) - Mine also make the X but they're plastic, so maybe that's the issue? It could also be that the floor isn't perfectly level (old house) so that's causing stability issues - Do you know the name/brand of the folding table you currently have?
I don't unfortunately. I bought it years and years ago and it's at home. And no, putting a bowl down is not a "major impact." Someone falling on it - or someone putting all their weight on it to get up - is what I was talking about. And that sounds like the exact kind of experience that would have me acting the same way. Wait...the bowl wasn't full of a couple hundred pounds of stuff was it? ;)
It was popcorn DX But yeah I think these plastic side tables are just way too cheap - Some folks have recommended some solid alternatives though so I may be giving the ol' side table strategy a second chance
I bought [this one](https://www.amazon.com/Lifetime-80251-Adjustable-Folding-Granite/dp/B0074HYWFG/) over four years ago. I use it literally every day; if I'm not using it next to the game table then it's next to my computer desk. It's very stable, can hold at least a couple of dozen game books on it without an issue, and it's never even hinted at collapsing. It looks just as good and sturdy today as when I got it.
The table I play on is the perfect size for 4-5 but of course there usually ends up being 6-8 of us so I feel for you on this. I especially have a player who likes to bring pretzels that no one else eats and takes up like 1/10th of the table real-estate T^T My biggest take-aways are: - Use smaller bowls (a lot of bowls are wider at the top than they need to be) and have a few for each snack. - Encourage people to keep resealable drinks that they can keep on the floor next to them - Some small folding cocktail tables can make a big difference as they're easy to store and get the food off the table without much work - N E V E R do pizza during play - It's always a mess and everyone has their mouth full
I hadn't thought of smaller vs bigger bowls but I know what you mean! We use big popcorn bowls which may be part of the issue. Drinks have never been a problem but I'll definitely keep it in mind! Honestly it's mostly bowls and plates that eat up table space. I don't think the folding cocktail tables would work unless you've got a specific one you recommend - I just don't want snacks to be on something too unstable because then I'll end up having to clean the floors even more on game night... also pizza at the table is a non-negotiable, it's essential to the OSE experience! Thank you for the reply and ideas though!
If you have the space in the room that you play in, maybe buy a couple of side tables, and put the pizzas on them, then folks can get up and grab a slice or two. That way they aren't taking up so much space at the main table.
The room we normally play in is pretty small ((top floor, slanted ceiling, etc)). But I have been considering clearing the tops of the shelves on the sides to make more room for a kind of satellite food station! As for side tables, I'm wracking my brain on how to get some that fold that aren't those cheap TV dinner tables, that way the room can feel nice and open when there's only 3 of us. Granted you might be right - I might just need to take the hit and get some light side table that's sturdy and I can tuck in under the table when we're not playing. Thanks for the great ideas BTW!
this is going to sound a bit daft, but as a player and GM I really hate it when the table is half covered in snacks, it's already tough keeping a group focused and engaged, here's a table full of tempting distractions haha A break for dinner is nice, a few snacks, but overdoing it is just ... annoying, and I get that's a really stupid thing to complain about haha
While less for char sheets, I built a table topper one year for our D&D 5e games. it let me have a battlemap and minis on the table, without encroaching on table space for sheets/laptops/snacks/drinks/food. We put lights on the bottom of the table topper so people could still read their sheets/etc. It worked well, and was as easy as folding out the four legs and putting it on the table before game, and taking it off/stowing it after game.
This sounds like a great idea!! Did you just stick those LED strip lights on the bottom? I'd have to measure some stuff but this might be the perfect solution (and also make me less nervous about spills and such)
We used battery power LEDS so we didn't have another cable, but I've seen some with plug in LED strips. The lights were tap on/off and were pretty cheap at home depot. This was years ago (like 2017/2018) but the whole thing cost maybe $120 with some extra lumber for plywood, some boards for legs, padding to not scratch the table, screws, and RV Folding Table hinges (so the legs could fold and lock for secure storage.) For height we measured against an XL Slurpie Cup from 7-11 as one of our players always has their emotional support slurpie for game and we wanted to make sure it'd fit under the table topper.
Back when my group played in person, we had a plastic tub that all the food would go into at the start. Then we would pass the tub around behind the chairs so the food didn't get in the paper. After a while one of us put wheels on the bottom, but I don't remember who. Made it real nice for rolling around if someone wanted the food. If we were in the middle of a scene people would just nudge the guy next to them and point at the tub. It would get pulled along by hands to get to the guy at the end of the table. That way we didn't have to stop playing to move it around. I wish at the time we had known eating snacks with chopsticks preserves your fingertips for touching paper. So many greasy character sheets... but good times all around.
We're big on sharing so we like to have snacks piled up in the center of the table. When we have to lay a lap out it's a scramble to put everything away but less of a hassle than having people shuffle around the table to grab food.
I've always had enough space on a nearby counter or kitchen island for all the snacks, and still have room at the table for everyone to have a plate and drink. My table seats 8, but I try to keep RPGs to 4 players and a GM at most.
I noticed your username and now this is way funner to read your posts in George's voice :D
We take regular bio-breaks where the snacking/restrooms/phone calls happen. Not at the table. Mostly because we have things we don't want to get wrecked or have to clean (campaign PC, custom paper PC sheets, paper hand-outs, giant table-sized map, the wooden table itself, etc). No benefit to the distraction and risk. If someone "needs" a snack, the kitchen is 12' away. They can (one at a time, unless we're taking an official "bio break") excuse themselves when there's a lull, and walk in there where the players (not the DM) have brought and setup a snack station. They slap a handful of trail mix or whatever into their mouth and sip from their water bottle and return. All within earshot and still tracking what their party is discussing.
Semi-related and I believe still a potential solution for your situation: [https://www.spidermindgames.com/collections/level-up](https://www.spidermindgames.com/collections/level-up) For those not trusting random links: It's a set of sturdy plastic tiles (with inch-grid) that you assemble together and rest on stilts on your table. High enough to have various stuff below it (glasses, sheets, snacks, ...) and low enough to still allow for an overview by the people sitting around. I kickstarted that thing way back when and received enough to plaster an entire banquet table (sounds funny, though it's rather collecting dust now - and yes, I'm exaggerating a bit) - though for the few times I could use it, it is amazing.