The One D&D Table to Rule Them All

The whole point of tabletop roleplaying games, like Dungeons & Dragons, is to use your imagination — the allure is in the infinite possibilities. But even those who regularly exercise their mind’s eye can struggle to maintain an accurate picture of the scene in their heads. Is that gelatinous cube within range to absorb you? Can your gnome cleric lay hands on you in a single action if necessary? It is all a lot to keep up with, which is why Lena912 designed this interactive D&D table that includes an integrated touchscreen for displaying the current game map.

This table includes all kinds of features, including desk tops for each player, cup holders perfect for Mountain Dew Code Red, and dishes to contain unruly dice. But the best attributes of the table are the electronic integrations. The most exciting is the display mounted horizontally in the middle of the table. It shows the current game map and players can place their figures directly on that screen. An infrared touch frame can track that movement.

Player figures can also contain embedded RFID tags, which let the players log in at their respective seats. And RGB LED lighting helps the DM set the mood for a given scene. Of course, the DM has ultimate control over everything and can interact with the system through a web interface, which they can load up on a tablet or smartphone.

Lena912’s Instructables tutorial covers those electronic implementations, as well as the construction of the table itself. The tabletop is birch plywood cut on a CNC router and the legs are 4x4” oak boards. Laser-cut and bent metal brackets hold everything together.

The screen can be any monitor or TV the builder has on hand that suits the table size. A connected PC or single-board computer can supply the video signal for that. It works with Foundry Virtual Tabletop software, which the DM can configure for their game.

The touch capability comes from an infrared touch frame, which should match the size of the screen and makes it work similarly to a capacitive touchscreen (though actual contact isn’t necessary). A Wemos D1 Mini ESP32 development board at each seat performs the RFID recognition and those communicate with a central Wemos D1 Mini via Wi-Fi.

We love Lena912’s work here and we think most D&D players will agree. This table enhances the game without overpowering the elements that make it fun.