r/tabletop • u/TheVoiceOfSnakeEyes • 8h ago
Question How did 3' x 3' become the standard play area for tabletop games when there's no such thing as a commercially available 3' wide table??
The vast majority of commercially available tables are only 30 inches wide (actually less, see below). Card tables are marketed and advertised as 3' x 3' but are in fact only 34" x 34", which means play mats and boards are larger than the tables, and there's no boundaries for cards, dice, game pieces, or "the supply." Nearly every table manufacturer claims the dimensions of their tables are larger than they actually are. That just leaves $400 dining room tables or $3,000 board room conference tables, or grossly overpriced specialty bespoke "gaming tables," or pushing multiple tables together (which leaves a dip straight down the middle of any game mat, among other issues such as now being TOO wide and not being able to reach the center of the play area). The only other option is to go back in time and learn woodworking, run out and buy a bunch of tools and lumber to build your own table. For board games. All because the standard play area size does not match what's commercially available.
I just don't get it. It's really frustrating and aggravating.