How big's the RPG market?

Hussar · Jul 4, 2018

Let's be honest here. There are very, very few hobbies out there as cheap to enjoy as roleplaying.

Umbran · Jul 5, 2018

Ted Serious said:
Freeloaders bother me.

They aren't freeloading. Freeloaders are people who take advantage of the generosity of others, but give nothing in return. I buy enough stuff for a group to play a game. They come and give me a game in return. I would not purchase *any* materials if I didn't have a group to play with. The large number of people who don't need to purchase are required to make the games run.

Ted Serious · Jul 6, 2018

Umbran said:
They aren't freeloading. Freeloaders are people who take advantage of the generosity of others, but give nothing in return. I buy enough stuff for a group to play a game. They come and give me a game in return. I would not purchase *any* materials if I didn't have a group to play with. The large number of people who don't need to purchase are required to make the games run.

Players should have their own books that they need to for their characters. So they aren't constantly passing around one book at the table and can build or level them on their own.

I understand there are casual players. It surprised if they're such a vast majority.

Eis · Jul 6, 2018

Ted Serious said:
Players should have their own books that they need to for their characters. So they aren't constantly passing around one book at the table and can build or level them on their own.

I understand there are casual players. It surprised if they're such a vast majority.

its nice but I don't think that it falls under the category of SHOULD

I dm for my son's friends.....a couple of them have bought players' handbooks but not all of them have and it isn't necessary

Emerikol · Jul 6, 2018

Hussar said:
Let's be honest here. There are very, very few hobbies out there as cheap to enjoy as roleplaying.

This can't be emphasized enough. Compared to almost any hobby RPG's are really cheap. I have two hobbies. Reading rpg rules and playing rpgs. The former hobby makes more money for the industry than the latter but it's a team effort.

Hussar · Jul 7, 2018

Ted Serious said:
Players should have their own books that they need to for their characters. So they aren't constantly passing around one book at the table and can build or level them on their own.

I understand there are casual players. It surprised if they're such a vast majority.

Why surprised? It's always been thus. The number of gamers who buy books is a tiny, tiny minority of players.

Umbran · Jul 7, 2018

Hussar said:
Why surprised? It's always been thus. The number of gamers who buy books is a tiny, tiny minority of players.

I dunno if "tiny, tiny minority" is appropriate. If we say every GM, and then one in five players, on broad average, I think that'd be about right - and that's 20% of players. A minority, but not a *tiny* minority.

Neonchameleon · Jul 8, 2018

Morrus said:
However, the entire hobby games market is growing year on year. Just look at the latest stats: the market has grown from $700M in 2013 to $1.19B in 2016/2017. Of that, RPGs have more than doubled in size, from $15M to $35M. Boardgames have over tripled in size. There is definitely a tabletop boom going on right now, powered by a number of factors ranging from Kickstarter, to the introduction of US West Coast media (shows like Tabletop and outlets like Geek & Sundry have helped to mainstream tabletop gaming), and more.

Just to put that into perspective 2013 was the absolute nadir for the RPG market - it was the year where WotC did not put out a single RPG book - none for 4e and 5e wasn't out yet. The goal for 4e was $50 million/year (it didn't make that, but that was considered plausible).

Hussar · Jul 8, 2018

Umbran said:
I dunno if "tiny, tiny minority" is appropriate. If we say every GM, and then one in five players, on broad average, I think that'd be about right - and that's 20% of players. A minority, but not a *tiny* minority.

But, even of DM's, how many DM's are like me that buy the core books and maybe one book every two years? My "gotta catch'em all" days died in early 2e. Heck, WotC recognizes that most people aren't buying books and have a production schedule that is the slowest D&D has seen in decades.

Emerikol · Jul 8, 2018

I'd say over 50% of my players owned at least one book. I as DM always bought all three. The DMG and MM aren't for PCs anyway right? ;-).

I think we were old enough during 3e/4e that we could all financially afford it. In my younger 1e days, I was so desperate to get a monster manual, that I bet my dad I could swim the length of our pool underwater three times. The pool was 44 feet long. I didn't drown but I think I was in distress in a very bad way when I finally reached the final steps. Dad bought me the book.