So. A funny thing happened at Gen Con.

The whole show I had been eyeing from afar the Table of Ultimate Gaming (TOUG), missing by a minute or two the folks who were there showing it. They had two tables at the show (one in the Ares booth, and one in the International Gamers booth). I left cards for them, and then finally, on Sunday, I caught up with Patrick Meyer.

The truth is, if you've been following my (Jeremiah's) story on That's How I Roll, you know we've lost a lot of our items that were in our basement (yes, that includes the game room), so I am in the market for a gaming table, or at least I was.

After just a few minutes of chatting Patrick hit me with the surprise of the show: "Hey, you're in the market for a table, would you be able to get this home? We'd like you to have it since you lost yours due to the fire." I didn't know what to say. I was caught off guard. Of course, the answer was, "YES, I CAN GET IT HOME!!" Patrick made it clear that it is a prototype so there are some improvements/changes coming, so you should take that into consideration when you check out the photos.

So. Does the Table of Ultimate Gaming have a leg to stand on? Let's find out!

First of all let me give you a quick run down of what the TOUG has to offer:

• Sizes: There are two sizes 3' x 5' and 4' x 6'. (These measurements refer to the play size; there's about 4 inches on each side, as well.)
• Colors: White, Charcoal, and Black, with trim pieces and playmat surfaces in various colors.
• Legs: You can get them in three different sizes: Coffee table, regular table, and countertop height!
• You can also get a few options including: add-on cup holders with dice trays, and a table cover.

The table cover is a 4-piece, divided into segments. The segments come off and slide into slots underneath the table, which then allow them to be slid out partially, creating a nice little side desk for players on each side. Let's also talk about the sweet laser-cut decor pieces. There are a handful of decor themes for these pieces, and they snap magnetically onto the legs, corners, and sides of the table. The ones I got are the sweet dragon pieces--the legs have fire on them and the corners feature a slick dragon head. And the centerpiece of the table is a sweet image depicting a dragon in flight, ready to unleash his fury on an unsuspecting village!

That's the really quick overview of the table, which is billed more as a "gaming system" because you can configure it in many different ways by removing the rails and placing two or more together (if, of course, you have the room for it!).

The Verdict

First of all, let me just say: WOW! Thank you soooo much to Patrick and Don at TOUG for being so kind and hooking me up with this table! I've received a lot of "review material" in the past 5 years, but this is just unreal! So, on behalf of my family and me, thank you!!

Okay. Let's talk about this thing. First of all, it's affordable. The base price is $599 for the 3' x 5' table, which (unless you're a big time miniatures or wargamer) is PLENTY big! Most gaming tables that I looked at during Gen Con started around three times the price. Despite being affordable, the TOUG isn't just cheap MDF board; it's got computer-cut Birch. The play surface base is made of MDF, but the rest of it is layered Birch. The decor pieces are GREAT. The laser cut images really pop!

The table itself feels VERY solid, especially considering it spent four days being pawed, leaned on, kicked, etc. by some 60,000+ folks at Gen Con. After reassembling it, it still holds up very well. I think my favorite feature of the table is the cover pieces that slide underneath and pull out to make shelves/desks. It's such a cool feature that allows you to have a few snacks or keep hidden identity cards down low without having them take up playing space! Really ingenious design. The small downside is that when they are placed on top to create a dining room type table they do leave cracks in between so we plan on using a plastic tablecloth underneath a regular one in case of spills. This is only a slight inconvenience, and in contrast to the functionality of the desks they create while using the table for gaming, it is more than a fair trade off! 

Another sweet feature that I didn't mention earlier is ELECTRICITY! There are four electrical outlets and four USB charger outlets BUILT INTO THE TABLE--two on each side! This is a standard feature. Yes, standard. I'm a fan of this. Super awesome!

Jeremiah's Final Verdict

The Table of Ultimate Gaming is a great, affordable option for gamers to get a sweet gaming table without breaking the bank. Lots of options to customize will make each table feel unique, and create the personal touch to your gaming experience. Until now, a dedicated gaming table was a luxury item, and you couldn't find one for under $1,000-$1,500. But thanks to the TOUG the price barrier is dropping lower and lower without sacrificing quality. If you're in the market for a table, this could be just what you're looking for!

We'd like to thank the folks at Wooden Robot for their generosity toward Jeremiah. This preview was unsolicited, but written in response to their awesomeness! Thanks guys!