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

[Queer Venger]

Weekdays tend to have lighter foot traffic. On days Ive gone they seem to have 1 or 2 tables open. The tables seem to be prioritized for people playing games, if you just want coffee/pastry they have smaller tables in the cafe area.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

In my neighborhood a new board-game themed coffee shop opened called Game Haus, which is wall to wall board-games. 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.

I've been dying to go to that place, but it's a fair hike (time wise) from Santa Monica. Starting to think it just might be worth the time to check it out.

 

[Tony Vargas]

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)

The industry does seem to have recovered from the Great Recession and the two year hiatus of D&D.

And, yes, there's generally been younger players trying D&D. I hesitate to agree with 'always,' since I remember there being a real lack of younger D&D/TTRPG players in the mid 90s through the 'oughts,' as they were drawn off by MtG/CCGs and/or LARPs and/or MMOs.
The Encounters program, OTOH, has always attracted younger and first-time players, IMXw/it (since the 2nd season) anyway. Even when the industry was languishing and nothing new coming out for D&D, Encounters Wed at the FLGS in my area was 4-6 tables, with new players showing up all the time.

 

[Mistwell]

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?

I've been dying to go to that place, but it's a fair hike (time wise) from Santa Monica. Starting to think it just might be worth the time to check it out.

We should get a game together!

 

[Fishing_Minigame]

I figured I'd throw in my experiences as a new player. I knew no one who played D&D as a kid and had a mom who didn't like the concept. I took a look at the 4e books when they came out, but was scared off by the dependency on grids. But when 5e hit, I was immediately taken by the ruleset, and between that and the excellent Critical Hit podcast I was able to convince myself that I could run a game.

Thanks to Skype and eventually Roll20, I recruited 3 new players from my hometown and now DM for players in 3 different timezones. I also know a ton of college and post-college players who all seem to be playing either 5e or Pathfinder.

Entirely anecdotal, obviously, but D&D sure seems to be doing well in my social sphere The game I play in locally is about to convert from 4e to 5e over the next few sessions.

 

[wedgeski]

Entirely anecdotal, obviously, but D&D sure seems to be doing well in my social sphere The game I play in locally is about to convert from 4e to 5e over the next few sessions.

Awesome! Welcome to the game, and to ENW!

 

[BryonD]

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.

That may be true. The late 70s to early 80s were a high, we agree. My position could be read to mean that the past decade is a new norm. But the idea that maybe that period was a low point in a pendulum is certainly very valid.

(I still tend to overreact to the once proclaimed idea that MMO popularity was a gauge of what TTRPG popularity could/should be. There is plenty of room for more modest, but as you point out *real* growth (or rebound, at least) without that MMO extreme in the conversation)