[Theory] Why D&D is Popular

[mythusmage]

The "Eric's a Great Guy, Steve" thread got me to thinking. I have a pretty good idea as to why this site is popular, but why is D&D popular.

I submit D&D is popular because it is open. It doesn't try to appeal to a small audience, it doesn't try to present itself as not something else. D&D is open to anyone who wants to play it, and amenable to mutation and alteration in ways many other RPGs are not.

It is in a sense unfocused. But it is also acessible. Add that to the fact D&D can be focused in so many ways and you've got a winning combination. Mike Mearls wrote recently about Core Stories in RPGs, assigning one to D&D. But he said nothing about how adaptable, how changable that core story is. You can use D&D's Core Story, add to D&D's Core Story in so many ways it's amazing.

There you have my hypothesis on why D&D is more popular than other RPGs.

 

[WizarDru]

My hypothesis is that D&D is popular because it's fun.

 

[diaglo]

theory:

D&D is popular b/c it takes the stories/myths we grew up with and makes them into a game we can play.

Dragons, vampires, minotaurs, zombies, Knights, damsels in distress, amazons, giants living in cloud castles,...


where sci fi fails or isn't as popular...(they make great movies or books due to focus by the director/author)... too many variables. and too much unknowns.

therefore. when a monster is introduced in D&D that isn't from popular culture or previous myth it often fails.

 

[Tinner]

D&D is popular for two reasons.
1. It is the most accessible RPG out there. It can be found in more locations than any other RPG.
2. It is a blatantly amoral power fantasy which appeals to a broad range of people. Not everyone wants to be a tortured, immortal, blood-drinking, creature of the night, but loads of people want to have immense power and the freedom to do what they want with it.

 

[Kanegrundar]

I'm with WizarDru on this one. D&D is successful because it's so much fun. Plain and simple.

Kane

 

[johnsemlak]

I'll think both Wizardru and Diaglo are on the mark.

I'll add the following:

1. It was first. Major advantage.
2. Fantasy with magic allows you to pretty much create anything you want and explain anything you want buy saying that 'magic does it' or something similar. I.e., you aren't constrained by the laws of physics or nature.

 

[Bretbo]

I'm with WizarDru on this one. D&D is successful because it's so much fun. Plain and simple.

Kane

I'm with you guys, but a lot of games are fun; but not nearly as popular. So what is it about D&D that makes it da bomb?

I suspect the reason is similar to what I've heard once about why Microsoft is so popular when other software companies may, in fact, be better...first and most. D&D got there first (what percent of gamers started on D&D? 75%?, 90%?), they presented a good product (not perfect) and captured the wonder of gaming better than, arguably, other superior fantasy RPG products. And they blitzed the RPG Market with tons of, for the most part, really good products. There you go, the recipe for success...Its' just that simple.

 

[Turanil]

D&D is popular because they were the first. Thereafter they evolved enough to not lose their base to better games.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Good points above. I think the level and class system also has something to do with it.

If you play a more free-form game (e.g. Vampire, Shadowrun) describing your character is a little involved. With D&D you can say "5th level elf wizard" and people have a pretty solid idea of what your character can do.

 

[WayneLigon]

The adaptability is a big plus, as we can see with the large variation among the numerous publishers that have pushed the d20 boundries.

Being first is also a big plus, along with being the best known and best distributed game line. Only a very few others are; White Wolf comes to mind, followed by some GURPS.