Is 4e bringing new players to the game?

[Scribble]

Well if traffic trends on the WotC forums for the past year* are an indication, the number it's bringing into the game isn't enough to offset the numbers it turned off from the game.

What are they compaired to before 4e was announced? Any idea?

I can see wizards.com spiking after 4e was announced, and as more and more info was released, and then dropping back down to normal levels as the game is released, and it's back to just playing it.

Also I bet now that DDI is pay obviously views have decreased...

 

[Shemeska]

What are they compaired to before 4e was announced? Any idea?

I can see wizards.com spiking after 4e was announced, and as more and more info was released, and then dropping back down to normal levels as the game is released, and it's back to just playing it.

Also I bet now that DDI is pay obviously views have decreased...

As I recall things started downhill after Gleemax came into being, spiked when 4e was announced, and been going down since that point. Again as I recall, it ended up lower compared to the numbers during the 3.x period, but I'm going off of memory here (and trusting the person who talked about it in the first place). Still take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Scribble]

As I recall things started downhill after Gleemax came into being, spiked when 4e was announced, and been going down since that point. Again as I recall, it ended up lower compared to the numbers during the 3.x period, but I'm going off of memory here (and trusting the person who talked about it in the first place). Consider this possibly informed speculation.

Really I'm just currious, not looking for proof or anything.

 

[FATDRAGONGAMES]

edition wars be damned, in my book. 4e is getting new gamers to try it, and that is just aces.

qft.

 

[Mercutio01]

Could you be a bit more specific as to what they liked about it, if you can?

The solidified roles (although that's been present since at least Basic), the power structure which is kind of like the treed skill structures in MMOs, and the ease of creating an entry level character.

I used my Character and Power Cards which I think helped them too. A few played things like Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic, so the tactile effect of cards versus big sheets (and books, since they didn't really have to own them as I do). I was prepared, using homemade dungeon tiles that I made in Dundjinni.

But the main interest was selling them on the similarities between WoW and D&D. Since they were all born in the mid-90s, they have been inundated by computers and console gaming and have no experience in pen and paper games. Being able to relate the similarities enticed them. Most of them now have their own PHBs and play on the weekends. (To clarify, I'm a sub and I brought some stuff in one day before Christmas vacationwhen the teachers didn't leave any work.)

 

[Kinneus]

It certainly got me to join. And I've even joined a Pathfinder game recently... so it can't be all bad, right?

 

[Verys Arkon]

I've recruited two new players since 4e launched, one of which has started his own group that he DMs, which also has two new-to-RPGs players.

I did loose two players from my 3.5 game, but that was to WoW, not 4e

 

[Vegepygmy]

Putting aside my personal reservations about the game, is it working to bring new folks into the hobby?

It's purely anecdotal evidence, of course, but I haven't personally met anyone new to the hobby since 4E's release who wouldn't have started by playing 3E if that was all that existed.

So as far as I can tell, nope. 4E isn't responsible for bringing any new players into the hobby.

 

[Halivar]

My 3.x group dissolved, and I built another one around 4E that has a newbie in it. However, it isn't 4E that brought her into D&D; it was D&D that did it. The fact that it just happened to be while we were converting is incidental.

That said, I'm pretty confident that 3.x would have harder to grab her with.

 

[ProfessorPain]

Well, I tried to find some actual market research on the subject, but apparently market research papers are like 1000 dollars a pop. So I decided to go with the gut. I always felt like they heyday for Role Playing Games, in terms of mainstream popularity, was the early 80s. It was everywhere. There was a D&D cartoon. D&D was advertised on TV. It was referenced in films like ET. And a ton of fantasy and Sci Fi movies made wide release. I have no raw numbers, but it doesn't feel like D&D has reached that level of popularity again. I don't think this is any fault of 4E. But the hobby itself has been effectively labeled a geek activity, and this probably deters lots of interests. Besides, it is hard for a pen and paper game to compete with online RPGs (which have been able to gain mainstream appeal). I think the key to making gaming popular isn't a streamlined cutting edge system (though that helps), it is getting cool people in the media to come out as gamers (and by cool people I do not mean Vin Deisel, Patton Oslwalt or Robin Williams). Wizards should plunk all its money on a Brad Pitt and Jessica Alba campaign blitz. Only then, will we a heavy flow of new gamers into the hobby.