Is "finding the right players" a solvable problem, or just luck?

[jdrakeh]

That may also be due to timing. The late 90s was when TSR was failing and D&D was losing significant market share. The years preceding 3e's release was prime for 3rd parties.

That's true.

 

[SableWyvern]

Getting rando off the street to play something besides 5e....not happening.

If a rando off the street is interested in playing at all, why would they only want to play D&D? Does, "rando off the street" actually mean, "An existing D&D fan sourced from a D&D community"?

If the rando knows basically nothing about TTRPGs, there is no reason for them to insist they only want to play D&D.

If the rando knows a a little, and has only really heard of D&D, they may express their interest as an interest in D&D but, in my experience they react very well to, "What I run isn't technically D&D, but it's essentially the same thing."

I've had a number of people approach me regarding gaming, either because they're interested in playing or just interested in understanding what it's about. I don't recall anyone being less interested after learning I run non-D&D games. In fact, they almost entirely haven't cared about the distinction at all.

It feels to me that many people are going to D&D communities looking for players and then becoming frustrated when they discover people in D&D-spaces want to play D&D.