I like the release of actual sales figures for the Starter Set. 126,000 in North America in 2014 (from the July release); 306,000 in North America in 2018. I wonder what we can extrapolate from that!
This IS fascinating...isn't it.
And we have to wonder how big it might get.
Right now the claim is that 10% of ALL families in the populations that D&D is within (market penetration, actually selling) has at least someone playing D&D.
10%
That is...of course, saying that Gale Force 9 has MAJOR sales on this!!!!
If it is still primarily ENGLISH copies that have sold...
That means 60% of households on average in English Speaking homes have a D&D player.
That's spectacular...that's above any fad even....
(1.5 Billion English speakers...but only 360 million are actually NATIVE English speakers as per google look ups, and over a billion are in other areas where D&D isn't sold much such as India...leaving us with 500 million in which the D&D market penetrates. We are doing low ball numbers of family numbers at 3 per family...world wide parents have 2.4 children on average, but it is lower in Europe/US/Australia where the primary D&D market currently resides with 1.7 - 1.8 children and a 2.53 household size).
Interesting stuff.
Wonder how big the marketing numbers will claim???
Right now, as per their statements, as many are playing D&D as have an Xbox One...or close to it.
With that many playing...it must be talked about constantly in schools all over the place by a majority of the students, it's hit penetration levels higher than many major blockbuster movies and other things!!!
Exciting times and exciting claims.
I really, really don't know why I should care, but the professional Dungeon Master gig bothers me a little bit.
My logical brain say 'good for them.' My gut says 'there's something sad about this new trend.' Just getting old and behind the times probably.
Glad to see so many people enjoying the game!
There's more people wanting to play than there has been in a very long time, and DMing is not exactly easy nor quick to pick up - especially to a level that you might expect from viewing streaming examples of play.My gut says 'there's something sad about this new trend.' Just getting old and behind the times probably.
I really, really don't know why I should care, but the professional Dungeon Master gig bothers me a little bit.
My logical brain say 'good for them.' My gut says 'there's something sad about this new trend.' Just getting old and behind the times probably.
Glad to see so many people enjoying the game!
A few somewhat scattered points:
The sales numbers provided are for North America alone: anyone outside of NA that bought the Starter Set is in addition to these numbers.
Currently, the Starter Set is ranked #127 on the bestsellers list for Amazon, which is good: the PHB is currently #52 (these are current sale rates, not historical). So the PHB is selling better, at least on Amazon (the Starter Set will sell better at Target, for instance, which doesn't carry the books).
40 million worldwide playing versus less than a million Starter Sets sold *in North America* suggests somewhat the gap here. More than 40 people per set? Pretty plainly the tip of the iceberg in terms of their total sales.
One difference between 1981-3 and 2014-9: no Internet meant that anybody who wanted to play needed physical copies of the books: now, there are the Basic rules, Fantasy Grounds, Roll20, and D&D Beyond (in addition to unfortunate dishonest routes). The numbers for those other platforms, or Amazon or Target, are not going to be part of the hobby shop reports to which you are referring.
We are in Peak D&D, though the peak is still climbing.
I really, really don't know why I should care, but the professional Dungeon Master gig bothers me a little bit.
My logical brain say 'good for them.' My gut says 'there's something sad about this new trend.' Just getting old and behind the times probably.
Glad to see so many people enjoying the game!
Parmandur said:I agree, really: it seems un-hobby-ish, against the historical "playing with friends" scene. But, if the market supports a skill being paid for, it will happen...
Tony Vargas said:There's more people wanting to play than there has been in a very long time, and DMing is not exactly easy nor quick to pick up - especially to a level that you might expect from viewing streaming examples of play.
doctorbadwolf said:Its no different than charging for custom dnd character portraits, or for throwing/planning/hosting a party.
If it's still rising then by definition its not at peak yet. There is still so much more room to grow that it isn't even near peak.
Baldur's Gate 3 and the Hypothetical D&D movie haven't hit yet, these could cause an absolutely huge spike in sales.