D&D 5E (2024) DnD 5e designer [Mike Mearls] explains how INDIE RPGs are taking over

[SlyFlourish]

Yeah, which is why the data from tables is interesting, but I wonder how much it really matters. By a long shot, most of what I play at home is D&D. By a long shot, most of what I play when I go to cons or other events is NOT D&D, because I'm already playing tons of D&D, and don't get enough of the other games at home. There's a lot of skewing that's going to be involved if we try to extrapolate too much from whatever data we can get our hands on. It's probably not really super representative.

It can be fun as part of our RPG business punditry hobby, but it really doesn't matter to individual GMs and players. The current popularity of any given RPG, including D&D, doesn't matter much for us and our groups. We play what we play.

It just feels like something that would benefit everyone in the space. But then, i don't actually know anything about the logistics of doing such a thing, or if businesses would even be interested enough to help fund it.

I don't know how it really changes much for most of us. As someone in the business (tier 6!) I still make the sorts of things I want to make more than trying to chase the industry focus. D&D is still hot but I'm much happier making products that people can use in lots of different RPGs.

And speaking as a GM, I just dig great products. Sometimes they're really popular and sometimes not. I don't think Shadow of the Weird Wizard is blowing the doors of the whole industry but man, it looks cool and I'm eager to run it, as are some of my players. Dolmenwood was made by one dude but it looks amazing and my Sunday group is eager to play it. Several folks on my Discord server have been playing it already.

I don't know that having better insight into huge industry trends is going to change much for most people in the hobby.

 

[Minigiant]

I still wish there was some sort of TTRPG trade organization that actually tracked data and did surveys for the hobby as a whole. It feels like we are constantly trying to extrapolate from incomplete or potentially sus data.

No money in it.

A "big" issue with the RPG community or communities is that outer rung peripheral industry are mostly hobbyist-fan-run. So if it requires a real money, extreme commercial trust, or multiple full time worker, it's WOTC or not done.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

No money in it.

A "big" issue with the RPG community or communities is that outer rung peripheral industry are mostly hobbyist-fan-run. So if it requires a real money, extreme commercial trust, or multiple full time worker, it's WOTC or not done.

I wonder what the model is for Moby Games, since they manage it. Maybe there's enough ad revenue given the larger popularity of videogames.

 

[MichaelSomething]

Well, as long as we get one of the Mikes.

You called??

 

[Reynard]

.I don't know that having better insight into huge industry trends is going to change much for most people in the hobby.

As both a convention GM and a creator, I think that data would have at least some value. You don't even necessarily to follow the data, but having it helps.

It's like designing for Shadowdark: having design data is nice, but in the end, does it matter?

 

[Minigiant]

I wonder what the model is for Moby Games, since they manage it. Maybe there's enough ad revenue given the larger popularity of videogames.

Maybe .

My fear is that the amount of money needed to deeply analyze a community with the do-it-yourseMansour. with many fractured subcommunities would not be low in money and manhours.

It's like designing for Shadowdark: having design data is nice, but in the end, does it matter?

For outside investment maybe?

My hypothesis on why the TTRPG industry is one Storm giant, a couple hill giants, a handful of ogres and men, and a bunch of halflings is no one has the charts and graphs to convince investors to gamble long term.

 

[Stormonu]

My takeaway is play what you want. Others will come to fill the table.

I own dozens of games and those I don’t play directly I take inspiration or elements from. My D&D has elements of just about every edition and even games beyond. As long as I (and my players) are having fun, who cares where it came from or if it’s “official” or purebred.

 

[Desdichado]

It can be fun as part of our RPG business punditry hobby, but it really doesn't matter to individual GMs and players. The current popularity of any given RPG, including D&D, doesn't matter much for us and our groups. We play what we play.

I don't know how it really changes much for most of us. As someone in the business (tier 6!) I still make the sorts of things I want to make more than trying to chase the industry focus. D&D is still hot but I'm much happier making products that people can use in lots of different RPGs.

Sure, that goes without saying. My point is that from an actual statistical standpoint, that's not very good data. Any extrapolations made from them might be interesting, but they're probably not accurate enough to be useful to make any decisions on even if you wanted to make decisions based on that kind of data.