Okay, this one is different from what I normally post about. It's US/Canada only, it's expensive, and it's an expensive item from an unknown company that hasn't been finalized yet.
But I'm sharing it anyway, that should tell you something.
2nd Breakfast: An Affordable, Quality Board Game Table (Funding ends October 4th) I'm going to assume that you haven't been vaguely following these for years like I have so I'm going to give way more information than I normally do. This isn't a quick blurb and done, this is me being a goddamn salesman.
As I'm sure you've might have noticed, there are a handful of companies that make "board game tables". For those who aren't in the know, board game tables are tables with room specifically to play board games (or card games or rpgs, board game tables is just a catchy name). The usually have inserts to put over the table to make it, you know, an actual table that you can use. Also this means that you can save your game/puzzle/project under the inserts and it won't get messed up by guests/family/spilled drinks/whatnot. They also are pretty damn expensive, custom ones start around a couple grand for a 3 foot x 5 foot table (that's the area of the gaming space, not the outer dimensions.
The 2nd Breakfast table isn't the only one currently on kickstarter, so this makes a comparison easier.
Let us look at
The Jasper: A Board Gaming Table. This table is by boardgametables.com, a well known and respected custom gaming table company who has run kickstarters before. We (or at least I) know these people, they know what they're doing. Normally this is who I would go after, they're also USA and Canada only.
For a 3 foot x 5 foot Jasper table we're look at $599 + shipping ($69 for the US). This gets you the table (in your choice of 2 stains or unstained) and an insert playing mat (in your choice of the color they chose for you). You want a topper to turn your Jasper into a regular table? $299. You want cup holders to attach to the sides of the table (that you have to find a place to stash when not using them)? $14 each. You can also get extra mats or "wings" (like toppers but with little walls to stop stuff from going under them). Shipping is "only" $69 because you put the table together yourself (like IKEA). Almost a grand isn't horrible as far as gaming tables go (because I want a table that can be used as a real table), but that's way more than I want to deal with when I bought my current kitchen table for a couple hundred bucks and the thing sits 8 when fully extended.
Now let's compare that with the 2nd Breakfast table. I don't know shit about this company, but they had a display at PAX and are actually communicating with their backers so these look like real legitimate people who aren't trying to steal your money or give you something made out of plywood.
Here we have two tables, one with a (roughly) 2.5 foot x 4.25 foot play area, the other the "standard" 3 x 5. The larger table (called XL) has slightly larger outer dimensions than the Jasper because the armrests/bezels around the play area are an inch wider on the 2nd Breakfast table. The regular table is $500 + $150 shipping (early bird) and the XL is $599 + $250 shipping (early bird). Either table can come in three heights (coffee table, regular table, bar height), four stains (plus unstained), four play mat colors (reversible), comes full assembled (thus the higher shipping), and includes cupholders, leaves, dice trays, and a bunch of other small stuff (including power outlets for your table).
Yes, shipping on the XL table is cheaper than the topper for the Jasper table to turn it into a regular table. And who knows what it will cost to ship the topper for the Jasper, shipping on add-ons is currently unknown.
Honestly that's awesome but not my favorite part of this table. Would you like to know my favorite part? I don't care, I'm going to tell you anyway.
With the Jasper table you have to figure out where to store your cupholders/other side mounted accessories when you're not using them. With the 2nd Breakfast tables that isn't an issue. The skirt of the table moves, so when you want a regular table you just push all of the trays under the table and pull the skirt down to hide them. Perfection.
You can also get matching chairs if that's your thing,