Internet: good or bad for D&D?

[Bullgrit]

Has the Internet/WWW been a good thing for D&D (the game in general, not your game in specific), or a bad thing for the game?

OD&D, BD&D, AD&D1, and early AD&D2 were created and supported with no Internet influences -- no discussion forums, no online games, etc.

D&D3 and D&D4 were created and supported with major Internet influences -- discussion forums, online games, etc.

How would our game be different today if there were no Internet influences? Would you still be playing the game? Would you have started playing the game? Would the recent edition be what they are without the Internet influences?

Would D&D have flourished or died off without the Internet?

Bullgrit
Total Bullgrit

 

[ExploderWizard]

I don't see the internet as good or bad in relation to D&D. It simply speeds up access to information and communication. The flame wars that get resolved here in hours took months of time (or longer) to air out in Dragon magazine. Its all still just gamers doing thier thing.

 

[DaveyJones]

OD&D, 1edADnD, 2edD&D, 3edD&D, 4edD&D, and 2edADnD all had active communities prior to the internet boom.

most were by snail mail. letters to the editors of various magazines. or letters directly to T$R. or at the local game stores or conventions.

we had bulletin boards too.

the internet just opened it up to more people to jump in on the discussions even if the posts read. "me, too"

 

[Xyxox]

I'd say the internet pretty much guaranteed the survival of D&D. Had the internet not been in place when Lorraine Williams completely trashed TSR, I don't think WotC would have been successful without the input they gained from the internet.

 

[Mallus]

Put it this way, the Internet guarantees easy access to new D&D content no matter what happens to WotC or whoever the brand owner ends up being. For that reason alone it's a good thing.

However, the Internet was clearly bad for the FLGS. Between deep-discount online retailers and fan communities like ENWorld, the reason for dedicated game stores (like the beloved Complete Strategist of my youth) basically went away.

 

[Janx]

One observation I have, which has held true on every forum for every hobby I've seen:

The people who don't read internet forums are happier about their hobby than those who do.

My old gaming group (which still plays, just 1500 miles from where I am) do not read internet forums about D&D. They don't buy or know about 3rd party products. They just buy WotC stuff (though they've decided to stick to 3e, seeing 4e as price gouging). They have no clue that D&D is broken, or that certain rules are broken. They are as happy as can be with the product.

There's a truism to the saying "ignorance is bliss."

To qualify this observation, I have no doubt you can find unhappy or happy people in either camp. It's more that the general unforumed people are happier than the forumed. I've seen this phenomenon across the spectrum of people and hobbies.

 

[Aeolius]

I definitely think D&D would have a smaller fan-base, without the internet. With play-by-post, chat-based, play-by-email, and virtual tabletop gaming available to supplement (or in some cases take the place of) face-to-face gaming, many get to continue playing the game they enjoy.

 

[Mallus]

With play-by-post, chat-based, play-by-email, and virtual tabletop gaming available to supplement (or in some cases take the place of) face-to-face gaming, many get to continue playing the game they enjoy.

That's a good point. Our bi-weekly face-to-face group does a lot of play-by-post on our campaign messageboard.

 

[The Shaman]

However, the Internet was clearly bad for the FLGS. Between deep-discount online retailers and fan communities like ENWorld, the reason for dedicated game stores (like the beloved Complete Strategist of my youth) basically went away.

That right there.

 

[Hussar]

I know that without the internet, I would have completely stopped playing years ago. I haven't had a face to face game in about six years. It's certainly been good for me.