D&D General Why grognards still matter

[overgeeked]

OK, OK. First post edited.

Sorry. I was just making a funny. But that's great.

 

[Morrus]

We still buy a higher percentage of books than kidz these daze.

it’s a long essay, but basically it comes down to this.

So I guess the correct response is…. cite?

 

[Lanefan]

yeah, you’re insisting some segment of the market matters more for some essential reason. Nope. What I said, you don’t matter. Grognards that buy every book don’t matter, they buy every book. Grognards that don’t buy any books anymore, don’t matter, they don’t buy books. I suppose those disposable income grognards you talk about matter for their purchases of wizkid and other licensed products. But ultimately, You’re just an old man saying that old men matter and, sorryy, in the TTRPG space, ya don’t. You’re 50 years old and spending a lot of time debating books targeted at kids in their late teens. Think about it. What old forks like us want doesn’t matter. They’re making a product for our kids. You can like if you like, but seriously, get over the idea that grognards matter to anyone making new stuff these days. Stop wanting things to be about you, appreciate all the new stuff being made for othe next gen.

We don't have the hard nmbers, obviously, but even if the "grognard" segment of the market only amounts to 5% of total sales* it would seem poor business practice to ignore it entirely (or worse, antagonize it). Those 5% 's add up in the end.

* - I suspect it's somewhat higher, maybe closer to 10%, but that's sheer guesswork on my part.

 

[Lanefan]

What I would call a 'Grognard' wouldn't play any current D&D,

Very likely, yes.

wouldn't buy any of the new D&D products,

Not true at all. Some (many?) buy new products out of interest, or to convert to an older edition, or as something to mine for ideas, or just as collectors; I've done all the above - though relatively infrequently - over the last 15+ years despite never having played or run either 4e or 5.xe.

 

[Lanefan]

painful post isn't it. Don't feel bad I"m only a year away from Grandmaster Grognard, except for playing with Gary I meet all the other requirements. Hopefully they have a Gamers nursing home for us.....

Before that, can we have Gamers' cruises please?

7 days on a big ol' gin-palace cruise liner rolling dice and knocking back pina coladas sounds mighty good right now...

 

[Malmuria]

Of upcoming books, I'll buy at least the FR setting book; not sure about the player's book, the dragon anthology, and will check out the Magic book.

Now here's the implication: I haven't played in five+ years, and while I didn't buy much from 2021 into mid-2024, I still plan on buying most of the books in late 2024-25. Meaning, if an inactive grognard is still buying books, I can only assume that the many active grognards are buying at least as many, on average.

Why would you make this assumption? I'm a companion level 'grognard' and I haven't bought a wotc book since 2017, and even then only ever purchased the core books plus a couple supplements. Our group, whatever we play, uses a free vtt (owlbear rodeo) and has no interest in any subscription packages from Wotc or anyone else. Whatever money I spend in the hobby is spent on independent rpgs, mostly OSR stuff that resonates with my companion-level sensibilities. So economically, I very much do not matter to wotc.

 

[Clint_L]

Repeated: I use grognared only in the most derisive way imaginable, I have not an iota of respect when I use the term

I am 100% the opposite. If I use the term, it is with tremendous affection and respect. Even when I disagree with the grognard. Even when they're me.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

A grognard is a grumbler. A member of the guard who grumbles about change.

 

[Clint_L]

Before that, can we have Gamers' cruises please?

7 days on a big ol' gin-palace cruise liner rolling dice and knocking back pina coladas sounds mighty good right now...

Ohmigosh, how is that not a thing? Is it a thing?

 

[Clint_L]

A grognard is a grumbler. A member of the guard who grumbles about change.

What about someone like me, who grumbles about people grumbling about change? Am I a meta-grognard?