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).

 

[GrimCo]

It's small leap from Descent to ttrpg. Heck, you can play descent as ttrpg. Standard game rules are for dungeons and combat, outside combat, freeform rp and roll under/over stat for resolution and you are golden.

 

[MacDhomnuill]

In regards to the seats at conventions issue, we have a small convention in Kansas City, Midwest Game Fest, which is coming up in about three weeks. There are tons (relative to con size) of pathfinder, Starfinder, and DND 5e games being run but they are only at about 30% seats filled. Every single one of the smaller and Indy games are packed, not a seat to be had. Only two small games with open seats are a traveller session (edition not mentioned in listing) and a Mythic Bastion land game that was full yesterday but now has two seat open. I believe that if we could get more people to run indie/small press games at conventions to increase availability of seats we could get a better picture of how popular they are. Oh and as an aside the biggest ttrpg by number of session and filled seats is legend of the five rings-living rokugan! Which has been full up every year for the last 4 years I have attended.