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

[Maxperson]

Yeah, exactly. I'm not in the Convention scene, but I wouldn't use the opportunity to play what I do regularly with friends and family, or even thst I would be interested in long term playing. Test some stuff out, do an odd one shot.

A buddy of mine likes to play in boardgame tournaments. Every single time we go to a convention he asks me if I will play in one. Every single time I tell him no, because I don't want to pay to spend all day playing one game that I already know well. I'd rather learn 5 new ones.

 

[Bernard Corwin]

I feel like it has more to do with changing tastes. There's a market beyond wargame-derived fantasy. All you need to do is look at other forms of entertainment. There's always been potential to do more, and yes, I know there are definitive games in other genres, but there's still a larger untapped audience out there.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I feel like it has more to do with changing tastes. There's a market beyond wargame-derived fantasy. All you need to do is look at other forms of entertainment. There's always been potential to do more, and yes, I know there are definitive games in other genres, but there's still a larger untapped audience out there.

Board games are arguably bigger than they've ever been and it certainly seems like what we'd identify as a wargame hasn't kept up, percentage-wise, within that space. So the wargame-to-RPG pipeline seems to be well and truly frayed.

I suspect more people are coming to RPGs from Frostgrave than they are Axis & Allies (to say nothing of more crunchy wargames).