GAME ROOM AND HOBBY SPACE

 

Game Room/Man Cave as seen from the entrance.

I've noticed that there has been a call (for lack of a better term) for bloggists to post on their gaming spaces.  Although teetering between being fashionably late and missing the party entirely, I thought I'd put up an update on the Meanderer's Mess, ie, my gaming space and hobby arrangements. The above picture is of the Mess in it's non-game configuration, with two standard banquet tables at the ready in the center for projects, impromptu games, putting things down, etc, etc. Continuing on from the above...

...the view along the right hand wall, where we see the all-important cube refrigerator, bookcase, and display cases...

...the large display case holds various and sundry collectibles and momentos. The bookcase houses a concentrated (post cull) reference library along with collections of rules and a selection of sentimental favorites from my old school hex and counter wargames and wargame magazines. In the organizer on top of the bookshelf, I keep all of my different types of dice and a handy selection of game markers (different colored pipe cleaners, stones, "gems", poker discs, etc, etc).  I also keep a ready selection of writing materials for players as well as a few game master tools, like a laser pointer and a laser line (to judge line of sight). Continuing on along the right wall..

...is the latest edition to the room: this display case.  Having completed my "big knight" project, I realized that these are on a scale unlike anything else I have, and as such required something other than my usual utilitarian box-on-a-shelf storage solution. Having admired many other gamers' displays, it occurred to me I could display this collection (taking inspiration from how action figure collectors display their collections). [Aside: I intend to have a post on the completion of my big knight project in the coming weeks.]

Along the back wall: I keep a few terrain items and other game support materials on the floor under the shelves. At the extreme right is a box containing my magnetized markers for various game systems as well as other game support materials. In the the shelves are my "active" collections: Thirty Years War/17th Century (in 28mm and 6mm), Colonials, and my post-Napoleonic 19th Century 28mm armies (Danes, Prussians, Austrians, Russians, Hungarians, and Romanians). The small cabinet at the left houses my Kriegspiel Block BBB collection and apparatus. I use the top of this long shelf as a handy set up area when running games. 

In the corner along the back wall I have a third (foldable) banquet table that I add to the others when I want to run a "full sized" game. The portfolio holds the maps for my BBB half scale Kriegspiel Block system. In the shelves behind the table and in the boxes on top of the shelf are my battle mats and table coverings. The black bag is for figure transport. 

A closer view of the military art along the back wall, a bit of atmosphere goes a long way (you may clix pix for BIG PIX in this post for a closer view).  Continuing from the back wall along to the left side of the room heading back to the entrance...

...Top left, a shelf containing my "current use" rules systems, organized in boxes fthat contain the rules, reference sheets, scenarios, and any other game-specific dice or apparatus for each game system--so when running BBB, for instance, all I need to do is pull out the BBB box. I also keep my tape measures, dice trays, other game master aids, and toy coins here. Top Right, moving on to mid-room is a shelf with  my terrain stored underneath and the top used as a snack table (logistics are an important part of any game).  Continuing along the wall looking back at the entrance...

...Above Left: my reading chair (new floor lamp is on the way) and desk. Moving to the other side of the door (above Right), is my sword collection and antiquarian military books (shelved under the Saba German Radi0)--and a few more bits of art. 

The room configured for a four player game...

...I set up my game master stool at the end of the table (within handy reach of the shelf behind). I provide side tables for the players to help manage drinks, snacks, dice, player references, etc.  Moving on from the fashionable Meanderer's Mess to the "annex" spaces of hobby management here at Meanderer Central...

...the attic holds overflow and lesser used collections--above left, my 15mm Napoleonics and my 6mm League of Augsuburg collections; above right, my 28mm Napoleonics (Prussians, French, and Poles) 35 boxes in all. Bottom picture above: the attic also houses my board wargames (mostly of the hex and counter variety).  Going from the top of the house to the underworld annex...

...aka, the basement--I have boxed and stored my basing materials, flocking, and other tools of creation under the basement steps (being semi retired from painting, I pull stuff out only as needed)...

...which was the case with my recent foray into the big knight project, which did cause me to pull things out and put them on my work table (above left), which you see in its current state of chaos, post-project. Formerly dedicated as my painting area, thus table is now used as a workbench for the usual fix-it jobs associated with home ownership.  Above right: I still maintain my paints, varnishes, brushes, etc underneath the man-table--and it was a good thing, too, since I needed them to do my latest project.

Well, that concludes my tour and update.

Excelsior!