D&D General Why Is D&D Successful?

[Micah Sweet]

So you think it is pop-cultural and not a function of the game itself?

I think that's a big part of it, certainly. The rules of 5e are serviceable, but not all that special.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I mean yeah that makes sense, a simpler, more rules-lite game would be better for someone with dyslexia. I'm not sure your point.

I've taught kids, adults who have never played an RPG before, adults who don't really like Fantasy all that much, etc how to play without much problem. It isn't as hard as you're making it sound. It isn't the best designed game, and I think there's a lot of things that can be done differently, but it just isn't that hard to teach, unless things like disorders etc get in the way.

The big thing we're discussing here is anecdotes. I have mine and you have yours. However, the amount of literal children I see playing D&D RAW confirms for me that it just isn't as hard as you make it seem to be. There are snags, yes, there are some issues here and there, yes.

My point was that I was responding to someone who said 5e was particularly special, noteworthy, stand-out for elegance and ease of learning: "5e, for its shortcomings, is incredibly elegant and easy to learn." It is not. It really isn't any different from any other version of WotC D&D on that front.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think it is one of many factors. It is not why D&D is more popular than other RPGs, it's not why people choose to spend time playing a game instead of the many other things they could be spending their time on.

It's a reason, it's not the sole reason or even necessarily a major factor.

D&D is more popular than other RPGs because WotC and the brand give it much more visibility than other RPGs.

 

[Shardstone]

While I agree that every game and TTRPG provides that escape, I think my second paragraph calls out why I think D&D is successful. It seems to do that better than others. It has greater market share, which draws in more people, but it also keeps them. It must be living up to the hype.

This sounds like a cultural argument that includes wotcs huge marketing budget. It lives up to the hype, but when most games cant get in target or host all celebrity podcast events, you cant use popularity to argue the game is inherently better at this.

Just to be clear, 5e is good, but its current appeal and use are not because it does all the things you listed as the best.

 

[Shardstone]

My point was that I was responding to someone who said 5e was particularly special, noteworthy, stand-out for elegance and ease of learning: "5e, for its shortcomings, is incredibly elegant and easy to learn." It is not. It really isn't any different from any other version of WotC D&D on that front.

A loooot easier then 3e and 4e. The former is a math filter, the latter is hardcore focused on tactical combat. Those are harder to teach.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

This sounds like a cultural argument that includes wotcs huge marketing budget. It lives up to the hype, but when most games cant get in target or host all celebrity podcast events, you cant use popularity to argue the game is inherently better at this.

Just to be clear, 5e is good, but its current appeal and use are not because it does all the things you listed as the best.

Best is subjective to taste. But "accessible and best enough for my needs" seems to be very important.

 

[Oofta]

D&D is more popular than other RPGs because WotC and the brand give it much more visibility than other RPGs.

It wouldn't be popular if people didn't also enjoy playing the game. That is unaffected by whether or not other games could be just as, or theoretically more, popular given the same benefits.

This idea that D&D is popular totally independent of whether people like the game is illogical.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It wouldn't be popular if people didn't also enjoy playing the game. That is unaffected by whether or not other games could be just as, or theoretically more, popular given the same benefits.

This idea that D&D is popular totally independent of whether people like the game is illogical.

As I said, 5e is serviceable rules-wise but nothing special. It has to be at least that to, as you say, have people enjoy the game. But it's popularity over other RPGs, given that its playable enough, has far more to do with visibility and brand awareness IMO than anything else.

 

[Oofta]

As I said, 5e is serviceable rules-wise but nothing special. It has to be at least that to, as you say, have people enjoy the game. But it's popularity over other RPGs, given that its playable enough, has far more to do with visibility and brand awareness IMO than anything else.

No one has any clue if any other game would be as broadly successful. I don't think hypotheticals really matter, obviously specific games may have more appeal to specific individuals, doesn't mean there are many games that would appeal to the masses.

I just don't see how it's particularly relevant. Just because A is good, nothing says B cannot also be just as good or better.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Other reason is because the new generation of players has arrived before thanks this brand can be family-friendly if this is the DM's wish. Some parents returned to play D&D with their preteen children. I doubt parents with their little children Call of Chulthu or World of Darkness.

It was in the right middle between known from decades ago and "not too popular among the masses".

Even if it wasn't the easiest option to start, among the main titles it is the easiest system to be learn by players used to CRPGs. It is not so hard when players know different videogames.