With Game Theory Tables’ Crafted for Connections Kickstarter campaign well under way, I thought it was time to take a look at one of the newer tables on offer this year. Just last week, an update they posted revealed that the Origins 2.0 LIT had become available as one of the table choices you could pledge for in the campaign. And wouldn’t you know it, but that’s exactly the table that recently arrived at my door.
What Is The Origins LIT 2.0?
The Origins LIT 2.0 is the evolution of the Origins LIT table. It is essentially the same table as the Origins 2.0, but with the addition of remote-operated LED lighting on the interior of the player vault. During the Kickstarter campaign, the pricing for the base Origins 2.0 LIT is $3149, and can be secured with a pledge of a $499 deposit on the table. If you already have a board game table but want to get the Origins LIT 2.0 (or any of the other tables in the Kickstarter), for the same $499 deposit you can also trade in your existing table for as much as 45% credit. Shipping within the United States is free.
The Crafted for Connections Kickstarter Campaign will run through next Thursday, March 27th.
New to Kickstarter? Check out our crowdfunding primer.
Unpacking and Assembling the Origins LIT 2.0 Table
Game Theory Tables sent me the Origins LIT 2.0, as well as multiple accessories that are also available during the Crafted for Connections campaign. The tabletop itself comes in a wooden pallet, while the legs are in a separate box.
The pallet lid was secured with several latches. Opening those and removing the lid, there was a protective foam piece on the top, and more foam surrounding the rest of the tabletop. I had received a table in the natural wood finish, along with a dynamic gaming suede playing surface in the new “Badlands” template graphic.
On the underside of the table were two power strips, one at each end of the table. Each power strip has 4 110v plugs, 2 USB-A ports, and 1 USB-C port. These are optional purchases when configuring your Origins LIT table, and come pre-installed into the table.
These power strips come in handy for powering devices right from the comfort of the gaming table. The plugs for the power strips each thread through a different table leg during assembly.
Assembly of the Origins LIT 2.0 is almost exactly the same as the assembly for the original Origins game table, as detailed in my review of the original Origins. Simply remove the bolts and washers that are already attached in the corners of the tabletop, place the table legs, and reattach the hardware. It’s a 2-person job, but easily accomplished with two adults.
One important part of the assembly specific to the Origins LIT 2.0 is that you have to be careful to tuck the connecting cords from the LED strip in through an opening built into the table legs. Similarly, the power cords for both the LED strip and the two power strips will get run through the larger holes in the table legs, and then out through the arched bottom of the newly designed table leg.
The original Origins table relied on risers that you would screw into the bottom of the table legs to allow for clearance for cords. This new method of cord management is simpler and cleaner.
Once all of the legs have been attached, you simply stand the table up, plug in the power cords, and you’re ready to go.
The LED strip comes packaged with a small remote control. You can opt for multiple colors and brightness levels, depending on the game that you are playing. These lighting can be used to increase visibility on the tabletop, or set the mood for a tabletop roleplaying game.
There are even various presets that will cycle through different colors. You can see a few in the video below:
Origins Accessories
As mentioned previously, Game Theory Tables sent several of their accessories along with the Origins LIT 2.0 table. All of these accessories are available in the Crafted for Connections Kickstarter campaign, both as add-ons when purchasing a table, or as part of an accessories-only pledge.
Dining Top
One of the most common accessories that people will get for their gaming table is a dining top, allowing the table to serve double duty in their home. The current dining top is 4 interlocking pieces, making it lighter and easier to take on and off than the 3-piece dining tops like the one that I had in my original Origins table.
Another thing I really appreciated about this newer dining top is that the bottoms of each piece were engraved with “bottom.” This made putting the dining top together a welcome no-brainer.
The matching dining top retails for $799, but is available at a discounted price of $679 during the campaign.
Mag Rail Accessories
One of the biggest changes from the original Origins to the Origins 2.0 is the addition of recessed magnetic rails running on both the outside and the inside of the table. This allows you to quickly add or reposition various accessories.
Game Theory Tables provided an assortment of the mag rail accessories for me to check out. It should be noted that you will be able to get all of your accessories in the same finish as your game table. However, the mag rail accessories you see below are prototypes, and were only available in the walnut finish.
Separately available in packs of 2, you can purchase magnetic wine glass holders, mugholders, and cupholders. These sets each retail for $99, but are priced at $82 during the campaign.
The magnetic card holders also ship in packs of 2, and are available at the discounted price of $82 during the campaign.
The utility shelves also come in a 2-pack, but are a little more expensive than the other mag rail accessories due to their size. These retail for $149, but are available for $124 during the campaign.
All of the mag rail accessories easily popped right into the magnetic rail, and felt secure and stable. And, of course, they add a lot of extra utility to your table, especially when you want to play a real table hog of a game like Twilight Imperium.
TTRPG Accessories
Game Theory Tables sent along a full complement of their tabletop roleplaying accessories, some of which are new for this campaign, and some of which have been previously released.
The DM Combo consists of the DM Command Center, and the DM Privacy Shield. The Command Center has a removable cupholder, as well as hidden magnets to secure the Privacy Shield to the Command Center. The compartments on the Command Center are magnetically attached, and can be substituted with separately available cupholder adapters.
A set of cupholder adapters for the Command Center and Wing Shelves is available for $49. They are only available in Natural and Onyx colors.
The Command Center attaches to the tabletop via screw-in clamps that will attach firmly without damaging the finish of the table.
The Privacy Screen comes in three pieces, which all connect magnetically both to each other and the Command Center. The magnetics are satisfyingly strong, and create a quick and secure connection. You definitely won’t find this DM screen sliding around!
The Privacy Screen also comes with 6 magnetic buttons, which can be used to secure maps or NPC statblocks to the screen.
The DM Combo retails for $599, but is available for $497 during the campaign.
Along with the DM Combo, you can purchase individual Player Wing Shelves, so that the players have extra space for their dice and character sheets.
Similar to the DM Command Center, the Player Wing Shelves clamp onto the table. They also come with a single cupholder. As with the DM Combo, you can remove two of the magnetically attached compartments if you want to add a cupholder.
The Player Wing Shelf Combo retails for $169, but is available for $140 each during the campaign.
New TTRPG accessories for this campaign include the Battle Dice Tower, and the Glass House Display Tower.
These solid wood dice towers are available in multiple colors, and come assembled. To put them onto the table, you magnetically attach a dowel to the bottom of the tower, as well as the wooden ramp.
There is a special magnetic end-cap used with both the Dice and Display towers. You simply pop off the normal end-cap from one of the table corners, and replace it with one of the ones pictured above. The dowel at the bottom of the tower magnetically connects with the end cap.
The dungeon master can rotate the tower easily, for either private rolls, or public ones. The die just gets dropped in the top of the tower.
The all-wood Glass House Display Tower assembles similarly to the Battle Dice Tower, and is also inserted into one of the specialty magnetic end caps. You can store miniatures inside, and the DM can rotate the tower to reveal upcoming enemies to the players.
The cover to the display tower is magnetically attached, and stays on firmly but is easy to remove.
The Battle Dice Tower and the Glass House Display Tower each retail for $199, but are $165 during the campaign.
The Verdict
One thing I can say for sure: The Origins LIT 2.0 is a definite upgrade to my original Origins table. Of course, there’s the obvious addition of the LED lights, a feature which is very helpful not just for setting the mood, but for reading all of the information on cards and the game board.
I never knew how much I wanted a magnetic rail system until I had one. The magnetic accessories are high-quality and so effortless to use. I’m especially fond of the utility shelf, which allows me a bit of extra table space for components when I’m teaching a board game. And importantly, all the magnetic accessories feel firmly attached to the rail, so I’m not worried about game pieces, or worse, a glass of wine, dropping onto the floor.
The in-table power strips are a much appreciated upgrade. There are enough outlets available to be running multiple laptops and powering several phones and tablets all at the same time. Which is likely more power than I’ll ever need, but it’s better to be future-forward. Additionally, the outlets are all flush with the bottom of the table. The old USB power adapters for the original Origins table mounted underneath the tabletop and took up extra space. Not a ton of space, mind you, but they were enough in the way that I couldn’t fit the armrests of my gaming chairs underneath the table with them installed. Now, the armrests fit underneath the tabletop with no issues.
A small upgrade which Game Theory Tables hasn’t really spoken about are the magnetic endcaps. With the original Origins table, the corner endcaps simply slotted in. Now, the magnets add a firm connection, and are easily removed to place accessories. And smartly, these new endcaps are the same size and shape as the ones from the original Origins table, which keeps all of the old Origins accessories compatible with the newer tables.
If, like me, you’ve got one of Game Theory Tables’ earlier models, you’re sure to be happy with the updates you’ll get with both the Origins 2.0 and the Origins LIT 2.0 (the only difference in the models being the LED lighting). And if you’re looking for your first gaming table, the Origins LIT 2.0 is a feature-rich table with room to grow. Game Theory Tables kept what was working with their original flagship table, and introduced tweaks and upgrades to the table that make improvements across the board. The Origins LIT 2.0 is a high recommendation, and is sure to enhance all of your game nights.
For more information or to make a pledge, visit the Crafted for Connections Kickstarter page!
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Disclosure: GeekDad received a table for review purposes.
