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<blockquote data-quote="Grainger" data-source="post: 6511931" data-attributes="member: 6779234">Of course, as has been discussed ad infinitum elsewhere, they have an uphill struggle, in many ways. Every new edition splits the fan-base; some players will inevitably stick with the previous one, and then you have Pathfinder, not to mention competition from outside the D&amp;D system from other &quot;more modern&quot; RPGs. Plus the growth of board gaming, which eats into the potential market (although there's crossover appeal here - but do the D&amp;D board games persuade many board gamers to try D&amp;D?).So given that only core rulebooks are big sellers - but every time they release a new edition they effectively lose customers - what can they do? They can bring new/lapsed players in, but it's difficult as RPGs are not an easily-understood product, nor is it easy to get started (they have done a good job at streamlining the rules, but let's be realistic about how &quot;easy&quot; D&amp;D is as a game). It's not like an iPhone or Skype, where the benefit is obvious to consumers, and so you get mass uptake. Of course, hobby games can enjoy a Renaissance - look at the aforementioned board gaming*, so it isn't impossible to grow the market - just very difficult.*Although gamers' board games are still not truly mainstream yet, and anyway, board games are more easily understandable - and have much less prep time - than RPGs.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Grainger, post: 6511931, member: 6779234"] Of course, as has been discussed ad infinitum elsewhere, they have an uphill struggle, in many ways. Every new edition splits the fan-base; some players will inevitably stick with the previous one, and then you have Pathfinder, not to mention competition from outside the D&D system from other "more modern" RPGs. Plus the growth of board gaming, which eats into the potential market (although there's crossover appeal here - but do the D&D board games persuade many board gamers to try D&D?). So given that only core rulebooks are big sellers - but every time they release a new edition they effectively lose customers - what can they do? They can bring new/lapsed players in, but it's difficult as RPGs are not an easily-understood product, nor is it easy to get started (they have done a good job at streamlining the rules, but let's be realistic about how "easy" D&D is as a game). It's not like an iPhone or Skype, where the benefit is obvious to consumers, and so you get mass uptake. Of course, hobby games can enjoy a Renaissance - look at the aforementioned board gaming*, so it isn't impossible to grow the market - just very difficult. *Although gamers' board games are still not truly mainstream yet, and anyway, board games are more easily understandable - and have much less prep time - than RPGs. [/QUOTE]

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