D&D 5E How Important is Stranger Things to the Success of 5e

[el-remmen]

A player in my current face-to-face D&D group (who convinced me to start the game in the first place) got into D&D from watching Big Bang Theory and being hot for Joe Manganiello - so I totally willing to believe that Stranger Things has had at least some appreciable impact.

That said,

The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn't to search for meaning.​

 

[Reynard]

I voted 5 because I honestly don't know. I am too old to have a finger on the pulse of the young without being arrested.

 

[MoonSong]

My brother likes Stranger Things, and he hasn't made any effort to play D&D. And he knows I play it. Perhaps with younger people, but as far as anecdote goes ST has had no effect on D&D playing.

 

[Oofta]

It's one of many contributing factors that get people in the door. The game keeps them coming back.

Which is one problem I have with threads/statements like this. Yes, it's free advertising, along with streamed shows, celebrities talking about how much they enjoy it, all the news articles. Throw in a bunch of other factors like general acceptance of geek culture and people looking for ways to connect to others in a more personal way.

All of those things contribute. It gives people permission to try it. Still wouldn't have legs if it wasn't a decent game. There's a ton of contributing factors, trying to rank any of them? I don't think it's possible with any accuracy.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

Minor but positive.

It came out much too late to be anything else.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think it obviously hasn’t had no impact. But I don’t think the impact it has had can have been all that much. D&D isn’t even a very big part of the show. The characters are briefly shown playing D&D about once each season, and they use out of context D&D terms to contextualize the monsters, and that’s about it.

I’d be interested to see how well the Stranger Things boxed set has sold compared to other starter sets.

 

[Parmandur]

I think it obviously hasn’t had no impact. But I don’t think the impact it has had can have been all that much. D&D isn’t even a very big part of the show. The characters are briefly shown playing D&D about once each season, and they use out of context D&D terms to contextualize the monsters, and that’s about it.

I’d be interested to see how well the Stranger Things boxed set has sold compared to other starter sets.

I haven't seen it on Tarhet store shelves in a long while, so...probably not that great relatively.

However, Stranger zthings has a humongous audience. Just going by thr numbers, a huge number of people will have had the though of checking out D&D introduced to them by the show.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I’d be interested to see how well the Stranger Things boxed set has sold compared to other starter sets.

Like crap, IME. But that's partly because it was much, much more expensive, didn't actually do a very good job at "starting" people on D&D, and in all ways was more of a gimmick product.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

While a touch off topic, I do wish to say that I will give very aggressive push-back against any existing gamers who voice resentment at Stranger Things being what motivates people to try our hobby. Get gone with that gatekeeping nonsense.

That just proves you're not a True D&D Fan™
If you didn't get into D&D from watching Critical Role™ then you suck, simple as.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I've never come across someone, online or off, who became interested in D&D due to Stranger Things. Has anyone?

I have. I've sold many Starter Sets to someone who mentioned Stranger Things while buying it.

I mean, I didn't personally ring in every starter set I've sold in the last 5 years, I have employees, and most people don't mention why they're buying anything, so there could be quite a few people who did that I don't know about, so the per cent could be anything, really, but I can say for certain that some people do, and it's not an insignificant number. (Depending on your definition of significant, I suppose).