D&D General D&D's Utter Dominance Is Good or Bad Because...

[MerricB]

The Dungeons & Dragons game has given competitors two great chances to come up with systems that can grow to be significantly popular in their own right - in the days when TSR almost went bankrupt, and in the days of 4E.

That D&D came back in both instances speaks a lot to its strength as a game. It's not just due to its prominence in the hobby, it's also due to it being a enjoyable game with wide appeal.

Other games do have problems with that "wide appeal" business. And honestly, a lot of them never will.

In all fields, you have dominant properties. But because the TTRPG sphere is so small, there isn't really that much room for smaller properties - certainly not in the numbers that get released.

(It's notable that during the 4E period, the most successful alternative was... D&D. That is, in its Pathfinder form).

 

[DarkCrisis]

I think it’s bad that people will get into 5E and have a hard time with other RPGs that aren’t massive power fantasies.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If WotC D&D died tomorrow, another company would end up in its place. Most likely, it's Paizo and I would give them about a year or two tops for the honeymoon before people started calling for Paizo to get out of the way to allow for more diversity in the TTRPG market.

And the beat goes on and on

Maybe that means people don't want a big dog, no matter who it is.

 

[Scribe]

That D&D came back in both instances speaks a lot to its strength as a game. It's not just due to its prominence in the hobby, it's also due to it being a enjoyable game with wide appeal.

It speaks to its strength as a brand, as it is to RPGs, what QTip and Kleenex are to their respective markets.

It's the default.

 

[GrimCo]

Maybe that means people don't want a big dog, no matter who it is.

Or maybe it's just small vocal minority that doesn't want it?

D&D is to TTRPG what Windows is for desktop OS. Household name, first thing that comes to mind of average consumer.

Personally, i think that D&D being top dog and crossing over from niche "geek" hobby to mainstream is a good thing. It grows player base. More people playing means it's easier for people to find groups and games. And then there is trickle down effect - people discover other games, buy them, try them. At the end, it's just about the numbers and economy of scale.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I think it’s bad that people will get into 5E and have a hard time with other RPGs that aren’t massive power fantasies.

Have you seen children play? Power fantsies are attractive. And later, if your job and life is stressful, do you enjoy struggling in the game too?

D&D is a way of escaping reality. If you offer something as bad as reality, don't expect sales.

 

[Tonguez]

Have you seen children play? Power fantsies are attractive. And later, if your job and life is stressful, do you enjoy struggling in the game too?

D&D is a way of escaping reality. If you offer something as bad as reality, don't expect sales.

Call of Cthulhu might disagree with you - maybe?

 

[Sulicius]

Call of Cthulhu might disagree with you - maybe?

Is CoC succesful? Obviously not on the scale of WotC, but I know little about the publisher.

I think you are both right.

 

[Corinnguard]

Somebody has to be the big dog. Just gotta deal with the big dog.

So whose going to take D&D to the park for a good walk and a game of fetch?

There are a lot of good reasons here as to why D&D's dominance in the RPG field is good and bad.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

I think it’s bad that people will get into 5E and have a hard time with other RPGs that aren’t massive power fantasies.

I think that power fantasy and escapism is a core element of its appeal. Most people feel that they are powerless in real life and few entertainments give them a feeling of powerlessness. With D&D you can have personal agency and shake the foundations of the earth.