D&D 5E Could D&D Die Again?

[Reynard]

There were enough people still playing older editions to create the OSR movement. That has to stand as some kind of example.

I just don't think people who play D&D would get the same gaming experience, that they obviously love, switching to Call of Cthulhu.

The OSR movement was instigated and supported by a very small but dedicated fanbase. This fact remained true until after 5E blew up and lots of people new to the hobby started to explore its fringes and discovered (and some would say co-opted) the OSR.

That said I was definitely overstating my case. I think a lot of the people that have discovered D&D recently will be on to other things sooner rather than later, and the collapse of D&D as a published property would both accelerate that and would mostly stop new blood from coming in. How long it would take attrition to essentially "kill" D&D outside of tiny holdout communities is anyone's guess.

 

[payn]

 

[Gammadoodler]

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

You figure that the majority of gamers out there are buying the new book every time it comes out to use? The sales certainly don't support that idea. The current player base is measured in the millions, but, I really don't think that WotC is banging out millions of copies of every single book they publish. Hundreds of thousands, maybe, but many millions? That would put them in Harry Potter level book sales.

So, no, I don't believe that. I strongly believe that most groups buy a small number of books, play with those for years, and maybe pick up a book here or there. And, that's the group, not the individual. There's already more material for 5e than most groups will use for the foreseeable future. If you start counting in 3rd party stuff, you couldn't put a tiny dent in the total amount of 5e (never minding all of D&D) material out there unless you were playing pretty much daily.

I see no evidence that the hobby needs a constant stream of new books. I understand that publishers need that. Fair enough. And, I understand that people like new books. Heck, I do too. But, I'm not really convinced that a majority (or even a really significant minority) of gamers actually pays much attention to the newest releases.

Err... I misread your post. Early morning posts on my part are probably not a great idea...

 

[GMforPowergamers]

As the title says. D&D has almost died 3 times but could it happen a 4th time?

The problem is it is worse now... HASBRO expects it to sell as it is or more... all it will take is going back to 3e numbers to make them panic

 

[DarkCrisis]

 

[GMforPowergamers]

10e: Just sit and argue for four hours before going home angry or in the back of a squad car.

i've played that boardgame
(bonupoints i bet more then 1 of you 'know' that game and it wont all be the same on)

 

[GMforPowergamers]

There was a time not too long ago where many would argue that D&D was the most effective birth control available.

I remember someone made that joke when I was in college... a long time ago, but even then I had to laugh becuse we had women playing with us and as such we had options of women who we shared intrests with.

 

[pogre]

i've played that boardgame
(bonupoints i bet more then 1 of you 'know' that game and it wont all be the same on)

Just finished running Diplomacy in my World History classes.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Just finished running Diplomacy in my World History classes.

that WAS the one I was thinking of