D&D 5E 1 Year later: D&D still strong on amazon

[Tony Vargas]

But I don't see evidence that hordes of new players are jumping into the hobby each week. The RPG fanbase pretty much seems to be in the same range. A whole lot of them are playing 5E. But most of them bought the books already. I can see a steady trickle of buys for players in groups plus the perpetual roll of new blood. But that seems pretty small compared to the enduring numbers that are suggested here. Either those people are coming from somewhere, or the data is harder to interpret.
I'm not claiming it is either. I don't know.

The new player traffic has been as steady as it ever gets in my area. Which is to say it's not all that steady, but it's not picked up or dropped off amazingly with 5e. Oddly, we got a lot of new players during the two years of the playtest (got up to 6 tables), none of whom were in the least interested in said playtest (weird). One of the three local stores has stopped doing Encounters (seems to be specialized in Warhammer and Pathfinder, now).

And, yes, there is a certain amount of churn, as old players leave or new ones don't stick around. Even regulars tend to come and go and come back - nature of causal play, I guess.

when 5e came out, I waited a while and finally took the plunge about 6 months in. I wonder to what extent the sustained sales are driven by people like me trickling back into the fold.

3.5 made me gun shy that way. I didn't buy the 4e books for two years (didn't stop me from playing, my regular group had maybe 3-4 PHs among 8 players, and maybe 1 or each other book) - virtually the moment I did invest in the core books, boom, Essentials. I'm still half-expecting to see a 5.5 someday, but I could only get by running with just the Basic Game for so long. ;P I wouldn't be surprised if some of the sustained sales were driven by people reluctant to trust WotC not to pull the rug out from under them a third time, finally giving in and getting the core books.

Over the process, all 3+ years of it, Mearls has always emphasized that there are always new people interested in D&D or trying to get into it. I think part of the goal of all this was to appeal to the existing base of gamers (us) but another was to cater to new players (them) and keep them playing.

Not see'n it, myself, in this area. Encounters has been pulling in new players the whole time it's been running at my FLGS, over 5 years now, IIRC. The program - low-level, casual play, with experienced DMs to show you the ropes - does seem to work in that regard. Retaining new players was something we had more luck with earlier in the program, while later, with the Red Box, re-prints, and now, 5e, we've had more luck pulling in returning players.

And, really, 5e seems to be designed mainly for the existing and returning player. The Essentials Red Box aimed at what you mentioned: splitting the difference among appealing to existing players, being nostalgic enough to draw in returning ones, and payable enough to retain new ones. It didn't go over so well.
5e's strategy seems more focused, less risky - and more successful, to me.

 

[MerricB]

3.5 made me gun shy that way. I didn't buy the 4e books for two years - virtually the moment I did, boom, Essentials.

So, what you're saying is that it's your fault Essentials came out?

Cheers!

 

[aramis erak]

That doesn't show more people getting "into the hobby". It just shows more people on the DnD page. Many of them may or may not have been in the hobby already.

Though, it is insightful because the answer may be that a great number of people turned off by D&D are hearing "its back" and so *those* are the people buying in later months.

Thus, my position that the size of the industry doesn't really change fails to account for D&D market share didn't have to change overnight.

So thanks, good point.

When the number of units sold of the PHB pretty much exceeds the number of units sold of the next 5 down the list, odds are really high most of them are new players, not converts. Especially since at least two of the top 5 others are experiencing sales growth as well.

D&D isn't just for us reddidit senes inclinatosque vexo anymore. Welcome the new players rather than doubting their existence. I'm only 45, and most of the new players I'm seeing at stores are half my age!

D&D is also happening in the schools at lunch, at least in some places. My kid tells me about her group in her HS.

The game is bigger than any other - conservative estimates are that D&D has 1 million active tabletop players. More realistic are 2 million and growing.

Now, some of them (like me) play multiple systems, that doesn't actually seem to be the gaming norm. Brand loyalty in gaming is pretty damned strong.

 

[Paul3]

I have jumped back into the fold for the first time since the early 1980's, so obviously I love the new edition. However, what is interesting to me is that in my 25 years or so of teaching, I have never heard kids talking about D&D....ever. This year at summer school, there were a number of kids engaged in casual conversation talking about it (not knowing that I was listening or am a player). Small sample size, but perhaps telling.

 

[wedgeski]

So, what you're saying is that it's your fault Essentials came out?

Cheers!

Burn him!

 

[BryonD]

When the number of units sold of the PHB pretty much exceeds the number of units sold of the next 5 down the list, odds are really high most of them are new players, not converts. Especially since at least two of the top 5 others are experiencing sales growth as well.

That might be true, but it certainly is not automatically true.

D&D isn't just for us reddidit senes inclinatosque vexo anymore. Welcome the new players rather than doubting their existence. I'm only 45, and most of the new players I'm seeing at stores are half my age!

D&D is also happening in the schools at lunch, at least in some places. My kid tells me about her group in her HS.

The game is bigger than any other - conservative estimates are that D&D has 1 million active tabletop players. More realistic are 2 million and growing.

Now, some of them (like me) play multiple systems, that doesn't actually seem to be the gaming norm. Brand loyalty in gaming is pretty damned strong.

Of course. D&D is still D&D. And the fanbase will always churn toward the younger.
None of that proves any difference in the overall health of the industry. (Which I'm not claiming is bad in any way)

 

[Queer Venger]

I have jumped back into the fold for the first time since the early 1980's, so obviously I love the new edition. However, what is interesting to me is that in my 25 years or so of teaching, I have never heard kids talking about D&D....ever. This year at summer school, there were a number of kids engaged in casual conversation talking about it (not knowing that I was listening or am a player). Small sample size, but perhaps telling.

Welcome back to D&D Paul. Of late I've been skyping with my nephew in Australia. His mum told us he got the Starter box for his birthday and has now started his own D&D group with his mates over the summer. As a gift, I shipped him the Holy Trinity and all the 5e Spell cards, (shipping was so expensive!). Anyway, I agree with you, lots of people are playing, and specially younger players. I even had a 12 y/o at my last D&D game at my FLGS.

That might be true, but it certainly is not automatically true.




Of course. D&D is still D&D. And the fanbase will always churn toward the younger.
None of that proves any difference in the overall health of the industry. (Which I'm not claiming is bad in any way)

No doubt Bryon. I dont think TTRPGs will ever be what they were before, and no edition can bring back those halcyon days. That said, more people are playing table-top games, (boardgames, card games) and realizing that face-to-face gaming with friends is much more rewarding than sitting in a room alone playing games on a console or a computer. In my neighbhorhood a new boardgame themed coffee shop opened called Game Haus, which is wall to wall boardgames. You pay for coffee and grab a game and put a sign to invite players to join you. Its a hit and most days the place is packed. So, I will say that slowly, people are realizing the value and qualities of sitting down to game in front of people, and not in front of a monitor.

 

[wedgeski]

You pay for coffee and grab a game and put a sign to invite players to join you. Its a hit and most days the place is packed. So, I will say that slowly, people are realizing the value and qualities of sitting down to game in front of people, and not in front of a monitor.

Brilliant.

 

[Queer Venger]

Brilliant.

GameHaus Cafe, Glendale, California USA

 

[mflayermonk]

GameHaus Cafe, Glendale, California USA

I've always wanted to check that place out but was worried when I showed up every table would be full. How many empty tables do they usually have?