This is something I've been thinking about for awhile now.

I have a nice HD Sony cam, and was trying to think of a way to have it direct above the board for a top down view and record our games, then edit them later.

Any advice on an effective way to do this, or an effective was to be able to see the while board without hanging directly over head?

I'm just thinking if it's off to the side, maybe you won't get a good full view of the board, but maybe I'm wrong

If I break the camera from falling or whatever, my wife will break me lol

Only way I can think of to do it is with a very tall tripod of some sort. That or a harness hanging off the ceiling.

A tall tripod should let you aim down enough that you're almost directly above the table.

Ya, I've considered both options.

Tripod though I was thinking, but possibly in the way if either of us want to walk around the table.

Ideally it be best to have directly above.

Was hoping maybe there is some sort of contraption that isn't expensive, but safe.

Wife does have a tripod, but not sure how high it goes

You can raise the tripod on chairs. The small inconvenience is tolerable as you probably won't record absolutely EVERY game. A 3/4 angle is acceptable and gives nice 3D effect. On overhead view is more 2D.

Was hoping maybe there is some sort of contraption that isn't expensive, but safe.

Thing is... Either you have something with legs on the floor, or something mounted to the table directly. Or else you hang it from the ceiling.

I think a harness of some sort hung from the ceiling would be quite safe, after all I'm sure the ceiling fans in my house weigh more than your camcorder does. But the issue there is how to mount it.

That all depends on where you're playing and how much access you have to powertools and ability to cut holes in the ceiling.

GoPro's on all the ships

I used a ladder next to the game table. It works best when placed on the side.

GoPro's on all the ships

This is something that crossed my mind.

Though probably more than I want to spend. Never really looked at the prices, or how exactly they work.

I just know a buddy of mine uses it with a drone or something like that for concert events.

A chair is an idea, but again be a hard to be bumped.

As of now tripod seems the best answer.

My kitchen table has lights hanging above it, but they are low, and im tall and sometimes I hit my head on them.

When at my place that is where we play.

At friends house not sure, never paid attention as to what's above their tables.

As for the flgs i play at, it's very cluttered, and tight, so tripod is just asking for trouble.

I'd love to get something that team covenant uses but they may have some elaborate setup.

Ok here another question and though I had.

I know some stream on twitch, what kind of setup do you use?

You can raise the tripod on chairs. The small inconvenience is tolerable as you probably won't record absolutely EVERY game. A 3/4 angle is acceptable and gives nice 3D effect. On overhead view is more 2D.

That and an overhead view came be blocked when people lean in to adjust their ships, do maneuvers etc.

My ideal set up would be:

1 camera on a tripod on one side of the board.

1 camera above pointing straight down.

1 camera pointed at two dice rolling trays so you see what the **$* they're rolling in the tiny videos.

If you put the camera on the side, raise it up as high as the tripod will go (or elevate it with a table) and scoot it away from the table. Use the zoom to come in close and then you don't have people accidentally bumping the camera during play.

A lot of the newer cameras have flipscreens that rotate 180. Use that so you can see the angle once you have it elevated.