D&D General Edition Experience - Updated Survey Results, Jan 2021 (All Surveys)

[CleverNickName]

The current numbers in the How Old Are You thread explains why AD&D won the popular contest in the surveys. We are top heavy on the 45+ categories.

I turned 46 over the weekend, so yep. I can verify.

To me, the most surprising thing about these survey results was the number of people who were still playing AD&D 1E. I expected 3E and 4E to have the most current players, what with recency bias and whatnot. But even with fewer players, 1E it still shines even when taking age into consideration.

To account for recency bias and measure the "staying power" of an edition here at EN World, we can multiply the age of the edition with the number of players currently playing it:

Formula
<Edition>: (years since its release) x (number of current players) = Staying Power

OD&D: (46 years) x (1 players) = 46
AD&D 1E: (43 years) x (10 players) = 430
Basic D&D: (43 years) x (6 players) = 258
B/X D&D: (39 years) x (7 players) = 273
BECMI: (37 years) x (7 players) = 259
AD&D 2E: (31 years) x (8 players) = 248
3E: (20 years) x (18 players) = 360
4E: (6 years) x (14 players) = 84

I mean it's not even close; AD&D 1E beats all of them easily. I was surprised to see that, and it honestly makes me want to give it a try and see what I missed (and what I'm still missing.)

 

[atanakar]

I turned 46 over the weekend, so yep. I can verify.

To me, the most surprising thing about these survey results was the number of people who were still playing AD&D 1E. I expected 3E and 4E to have the most current players, what with recency bias and whatnot. But even with fewer players, 1E it still shines even when taking age into consideration.

To account for recency bias and measure the "staying power" of an edition here at EN World, we can multiply the age of the edition with the number of players currently playing it:

Formula
<Edition>: (years since its release) x (number of current players) = Staying Power

OD&D: (46 years) x (1 players) = 46
AD&D 1E: (43 years) x (10 players) = 430
Basic D&D: (43 years) x (6 players) = 258
B/X D&D: (39 years) x (7 players) = 273
BECMI: (37 years) x (7 players) = 259
AD&D 2E: (31 years) x (8 players) = 248
3E: (20 years) x (18 players) = 360
4E: (6 years) x (14 players) = 84

I mean it's not even close; AD&D 1E beats all of them easily. I was surprised to see that, and it honestly makes me want to give it a try and see what I missed (and what I'm still missing.)

Interesting.

I do have one problem with your formula. Over the years, as a member of various old school forums, I've discovered that many who claim to be still playing old versions aren't playing that much. By that I mean they play in a regular 3e, 4e, or 5e game, because that is what the majority want to play. Once or twice a year they play an AD&D or BECMI game. That is not really playing an edition in my mind. It's nostalgia gaming.

Frequency matters imho.

 

[CleverNickName]

Interesting.

I do have one problem with your formula. Over the years, as a member of various old school forums, I've discovered that many who claim to be still playing old versions aren't playing that much. By that I mean they play in a regular 3e, 4e, or 5e game, because that is what the majority want to play. Once or twice a year they play an AD&D or BECMI game. That is not really playing an edition in my mind. It's nostalgia gaming.

Frequency matters imho.

"All models lie. Some are also useful." - statistics proverb

 

[CleverNickName]

I do have one problem with your formula. Over the years, as a member of various old school forums, I've discovered that many who claim to be still playing old versions aren't playing that much. By that I mean they play in a regular 3e, 4e, or 5e game, because that is what the majority want to play. Once or twice a year they play an AD&D or BECMI game. That is not really playing an edition in my mind. It's nostalgia gaming.

Frequency matters imho.

They play it, but they aren't really playing it? That's a trap.

Remember that the intent of these surveys was to measure that "nostalgia gaming." We already know that most hobby gamers are playing the 5th Edition; we have other (more reliable) surveys from Roll20, WotC, D&D Beyond; no need to go there. I wanted to look at the older editions: see who played them (or might still be playing them) and how folks felt about them.

 

[Koren n'Rhys]

Damn, thanks for compiling this. I didn't realize you'd done so many other polls (came here from BX). Lots to read now!

 

[CleverNickName]

Thanks @Koren n'Rhys , I hope it's an enjoyable read. People are still voting and commenting on those surveys, and I'm still collecting information. I'll post an updated set of results in this thread sometime next week.

It's a shame that the 4e survey thread ended up getting closed; it's affecting my data! (But that said: I'd rather have holes in my data, than to have to read pages and pages of hateful nonsense and "winning" arguments.)

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

People are still voting and commenting on those surveys, and I'm still collecting information. I'll post an updated set of results in this thread sometime next week.

It's a shame that the 4e survey thread ended up getting closed; it's affecting my data! (But that said: I'd rather have holes in my data, than to have to read pages and pages of hateful nonsense and "winning" arguments.)

Fascinating read. I like the statistics.

I read through some of the linked posts. I liked the OD&D, B/X, BECMI (although they were short).

The 4e forum was interesting, then nasty, then vicious, the closed. And I couldn't really follow the 1e one? That was weird.

The 2e one was nostalgic, but I never really played that much.

 

[schneeland]

I think I missed most of the polls, but still thanks a lot (I'm not visiting as often as I used to since I stopped playing 5e). I always enjoy statistical analysis and appreciate that you also took the time to look at the comments.

 

[CleverNickName]

I think I missed most of the polls, but still thanks a lot (I'm not visiting as often as I used to since I stopped playing 5e). I always enjoy statistical analysis and appreciate that you also took the time to look at the comments.

The polls aren't closed, but the commentary has dropped off quite a bit. I'm still collecting and tabulating the responses.

That reminds me, I should post the updated numbers. Stay tuned.

 

[Helldritch]

Iam not surprised to see 1ed coming on on top. It was long lasting and survived well onto the second edition era. It took third edition to see 1ed decline. The main reason was, maybe, that 2ed was too close to 1ed to move older gamers. Younger ones had jumped onboard the 2ed boat quickly, but a lot of the gamers older than me by about 5 to 10 years refused to have anything to do with 2ed.

It took 3ed to see them coming back at the store and our weekly games (some had Friday night videos and MtG, we had Friday night dungeons...). For them, 3ed was different enough to warrant a change of game. At that time, I was coaching young DMs and seeing these old friends coming was a great joy. The younger DMs were so impressed by the stories of these older players that some tried 1ed and loved it. Whereas those that tried 2ed were not so impressed.

All your data confirm what I had experienced. And yet, the 4ed dislike that raged did not touched my gaming area. The great majority loved it. We must be the exception confirming the rule.

On a final note. I really love 5ed. This is the first edition where I do appreciate all that is coming out so far (save the Rick ann Morty. Iam clearly not the targeted audience).