D&D 5E (2024) Is There A New Sheriff in Town?

[Campbell]

I think what's relevant is that for the first time since Vampire - The Masquerade's cultural explosion there is another roleplaying game manufacturer that has an in, on a cultural level, to bring in people who are not already existing players and have financial resources to engage in actual marketing of their product. Paizo has never really had that access.

I don't expect Daggerheart to overtake D&D sales long term, but I think it will take a solid chunk of the younger fanbase (which include a lot of theater kids) and bring in some fresh faces. I expect it to be a healthy #2 - one that is more significant than Pathfinder has been in a very long time.

 

[AlViking]

Yeah but - at the end of the day, who cares about the "scandals"? Are they even really scandals (other than the OGL fiasco)? Businesses gonna busy, right? The key here is getting some innovative ttrpg design that transforms the hobby's power structure. It's been FIFTY years with D&D. I'm ready for a major shift and I think many of my fellow gamers feel the same.

The sun don't rise and set on D&D.

Then it's a good thing that you and many of your fellow gamers already have dozens if not hundreds of alternatives. Daggerheart just adds one more alternative to the pile. That's not a bad thing, I think we get better products when there's competition but just saying that you want something else doesn't really move the needle much. There are already plenty of alternatives.

 

[mamba]

I thought the OGL fiasco would (surely) activate the community into an official unified boycott of WotC product.

you will never get a unified one, the community is too large and diverse for that. The majority does not know the OGL, does not care about it, and was not aware of WotC’s plans.

Despite this, it was the largest backlash D&D had and got WotC / Hasbro to cave. The SRD in CC further split any ‘unified’ boycott because for many people that was enough to return / stay with D&D while some saw the OGL as a betrayal that could not be forgiven and WotC as not trustworthy ever again.

Being bored with D&D is probably the number one reason to stop or move to a different TTRPG, and that will always be an individual decision, not something unified

 

[Minigiant]

Yeah but complaint without action is like a car with no engine - nothing positive happens. I thought the OGL fiasco would (surely) activate the community into an official unified boycott of WotC product.

So. I just want to see newer, better ttrpgs at the top.

They mass unsubscribed from DNDB.

This community actually takes action so you have to listen to them somewhat compared to other communities.

 

[Corinnguard]

It’s more likely that the collapse of Hasbro would bring down D&D (as a tabletop game) than external competition.

True, D&D has been around for 50 years. First under TSR as 1e and 2e, and then under Hasbro/WoTC as 3e, 4e, 5e and 5.5e. However, the collapse of Hasbro is more likely to bring down WoTC IMO. D&D would still exist for those who role-play it as a TTRPG or as a VTTRPG.

 

[Morrus]

I'm ready for a major shift and I think many of my fellow gamers feel the same.

The sun don't rise and set on D&D.

Who's stopping you? There's literally thousands of other TTRPGs. Knock yourself out!

 

[bedir than]

For some perspective, D&D was about a quarter billion brand last year.
It's selling better this year, now that all the core books are out, plus there are more books and the starter set to come for the holidays.

Daggerheart had a very strong launch, but there's no reason to think Critical Role as a whole is challenging D&D as a brand.

New sheriff? Not in ttrpg town.

 

[Azzy]

I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[dave2008]

The key here is getting some innovative ttrpg design that transforms the hobby's power structure. I

These do not go hand-in-hand. There has been innovative design in ttrpg for a long time, but that doesn't transform the hobby's power structure. Also, it is not like Daggerheart is really innovative design anyway. So it seems to me what you rally want is a change in the hobby's power structure. Design really doesn't have much to do with that.

IMO, if something topples D&D (which I doubt) it will have less to do with design (innovative or otherwise) and more to do with other factors.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

D&D would still exist for those who role-play it as a TTRPG or as a VTTRPG

The existing game will always exist (at least until the paper decays), but producing print books for a tabletop game is marginal at best. Thus, any business who bought the D&D brand from a Hasbro would have no interest in continuing to produce material for the tabletop game. It would become a computer game brand.

As mentioned, even if Hasbro survives the current storm, it’s possible they will axe the print books line anyway.