Google Statistics on the Edition Wars: D&D & Pathfinder [updated]

dkyle · Jul 3, 2012

Incenjucar said:
Yep. Whereas 3E is supported by online documents. As a 4E player and DM, I've done more searches for 3E than for 4E... for the purpose of showing off the differences and flaws of 3E.

Same here. I do a lot more searching for older editions. I already know 4E.

The D&D vs. Pathfinder comparison is pretty deeply flawed, because it excludes any searches for D&D that don't include an edition. For example:

Insight search shows that D&D, dnd, "Dungeons and Dragons", and "Dungeons Dragons" all, individually, dwarf Pathfinder in the RPG category.

mafelton · Jul 3, 2012

The existence and accessibility of the online compendium for 4e and the pfsrd for Pathfinder makes this data pretty much useless.

dd.stevenson · Jul 4, 2012

mafelton said:
The existence and accessibility of the online compendium for 4e and the pfsrd for Pathfinder makes this data pretty much useless.

Mostly agree. I think, however, that they could have gotten away with a graph of month-to-month percentage change. I also think there's scope for some interesting analysis of additional search terms.

TarionzCousin · Jul 4, 2012

We should all skew the stats by searching for "6E D&D" and "Sixth Edition" a hundred times a day during the month of July.

TerraDave · Jul 4, 2012

dkyle said:
The D&D vs. Pathfinder comparison is pretty deeply flawed, because it excludes any searches for D&D that don't include an edition. For example:

Insight search shows that D&D, dnd, "Dungeons and Dragons", and "Dungeons Dragons" all, individually, dwarf Pathfinder in the RPG category.

As the "David" who passed on the link, I think it reflects both the rise of Pathfinder and enduring interest in 3.5, especially among more hardcore gamers...but also the wider brand that is D&D. I don't Pathfinder is any kind of challenge to the later, but has almost certainly been a big challenge in terms of, say, sales of hardback books.

Zireael · Jul 4, 2012

mafelton said:
The existence and accessibility of the online compendium for 4e and the pfsrd for Pathfinder makes this data pretty much useless.

There *is* an online compendium for 4e?

john112364 · Jul 4, 2012

Zireael said:
There *is* an online compendium for 4e?

If you have DDI subscription on the WorC site yes. Otherwise not so much.
And it's UI leaves a lot to be desired. But it has pretty much anything 4e has put out

jbear · Jul 5, 2012

I wonder if the fact that Pathfinder has all the rules online for free is a factor in this data.

For example, when I don't know something like how prone works, or the description of a spe, or I want to check out a class etc for pathfinder I search for that info online with a search like "Sleep Pathfinder" and bingo, I get the full spell description.

I would never do that with 4e as I know I can't find that information online.

Blackwarder · Jul 6, 2012

UngeheuerLich said:
Actually, as 4e is very complete in its offerings, and a bit restrictive in what can be offered by 3rd parties... why should I google for 4e?

Everything I need is on the wizard´s homepage...

Exactly what I though, I don't google 4e, I just go to WotC site, I found KQ 4e stuff by mistake...

Warder

Alaxk Knight of Galt · Jul 18, 2012

Google Statistics by Edition

This was an interesting read.
Google Statistics on the Edition Wars: D&D & Pathfinder | Awesome Dice Blog

The long and short of it is this graph:

3.5 shows a steady decline in searches until just after the release of 4th. Then it begins to rise in number of searches.
4th Spikes with it's release in `08, then holds steady for the next four years
Pathfinder spikes with it's release in `09, then shows steady growth.

I've no clue if Awesome Dice has an ax to grind or not. I just found the data interesting.