Podcast #43: Why is D&D So Popular?

This week, Morrus and Peter attempt to definitively answer the question of why D&D is so popular. In the news, our sketch becomes reality as Wizards of the Coast announces the announcement for the announcement for the new Dungeons & Dragons product, John Wick and 7^th Sea are going to Chaosium, a D&D cookbook, and more! Plus our favorite game in all the world, a new sketch based on a classic gaming tale, and Patreon Asked Questions!

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News
Acquisitions Inc. Book Officially Announced http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?6174-Acquisitions-Inc-Book-Officially-Announced
…and available for pre-order https://amzn.to/2IwfutJ
Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/04/01/dungeons-and-dragons-cookbook/
Chaosium Buys 7^th Sea, Hires John Wick http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?6176-John-Wick-Sells-7th-Sea-to-Chaosium
The Journal of the Traveller’s Aid Society Returns https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/42886/mongoose-revive-the-journal-travellers-aid-society
D&D Stream The Descent Announced http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...-Adventure-Reveal-On-17th-May-at-The-Descent=
ENWorld News Digest (Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage Adventure Board Game, Paranoia Video Game) http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...nnounced-Paranoia-gets-a-Video-Game-and-more!
Paizo Product Roundup http://www.enworld.org/forum/conten...nds-Occult-Adventures-and-Ultimate-Wilderness
Matt Corley Teases New Project http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?6195-It-s-Not-A-Cartoon-But-What-Is-It
New York Times on Dungeons & Dragons https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/06/opinion/sunday/dungeons-and-dragons.html
Starfinder Beginner Box Unboxing http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?6191-Unboxing-The-Starfinder-Beginner-Box
Stranger Things D&D Starter Set Arrives Early to Amazon https://amzn.to/2X3OjdH
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Kickstarters
Ultimate Spheres of Power https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/adammeyers/ultimate-spheres-of-power-the-complete-system-path
An Inner Darkness https://www.kickstarter.com/project...nner-darkness-for-7th-edition-call-of-cthulhu
BASE: A CaRdPG https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1778465766/base-a-cardpg
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D&D’s Popularity
Note: Many TV shows, movies, and songs were discussed in the show, but I’m focusing on the ones that are harder to find as they’re not by well-known, mainstream artists or studios.
Flashlight Brown “Ready to Roll” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ti1TKCK_Pw
Connor Anderson “Like a D6” (Parody of Far East Movement “Like a G6”) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNUnZgoUppM
Stephen Lynch “D&D” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgOB7VWjlSQ
The Gamers https://watch.thefantasy.network/the-gamers-2002/videos/the-gamers-1080p-2017
The Gamers: Dorkness Rising https://watch.thefantasy.network/the-gamers-dorkness-rising/videos/dorkness-rising-2011-master-1
The Gamers: Natural 1 https://watch.thefantasy.network/the-gamers-natural-one/videos/the-gamers-natural-one
The Gamers: Season 0 https://watch.thefantasy.network/videos/the-gamers-season-0
The Gamers: The Shadow Menace https://watch.thefantasy.network/videos/the-gamers-the-shadow-menace
Dark Dungeons (much better than Mazes and Monsters) https://watch.thefantasy.network/dark-dungeons-the-movie/videos/darkdungeonsthemovie-1080p-1
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[Aaron L]

Why is D&D so popular?

Because it's awesome!

 

[practicalm]

In general it's easier to say you are playing D&D then trying to explain which system you are actually playing.

Partly because of the cartoon, partly because most of the people outside the hobby don't know about all the internal hobby differences.

I'd rather be playing something else than D&D.

 

[Zhaleskra]

It seems more popular than it may actually be because it’s the RPG everybody knows about. Not saying it isn’t popular, just that the volume of that popularity could be skewed, in some cases by not explaining that you are playing another RPG.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

The 80's cartoon, nerds now are parents playing with their children, the movies of the Lord of the Rings and series as Games of Thrones, videogames like Final Fantasy or Warcraft, the liveplay steaming shows as Critical Role.