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Total number of roleplayers?
- Thread starter Walking Paradox
- Start date
Mercurius
Legend
I don't think there is any reliable survey data. I've heard the figure 3 million D&D players in the US in the early Aughties, which sounds about right - but that's 1 in 100 people, which seems quite a bit. But who knows?
I would imagine that millions play RPGs, but probably not tens of millions.
I didn't know Germans were so nerdy
I would imagine that millions play RPGs, but probably not tens of millions.
I didn't know Germans were so nerdy
delericho
Legend
According to this, there are some 1.5 million active D&D players and 24 million lapsed players.
I isn't clear what they meant by 'active' and 'lapsed', but I believe 'active' meant anyone who is currently playing any version of D&D (including Pathfinder and retro-clones), while 'lapsed' meant anyone who did at one time and is now not playing. However, I may well be wrong about either of these definitions.
I isn't clear what they meant by 'active' and 'lapsed', but I believe 'active' meant anyone who is currently playing any version of D&D (including Pathfinder and retro-clones), while 'lapsed' meant anyone who did at one time and is now not playing. However, I may well be wrong about either of these definitions.
Mercurius
Legend
I'm wondering if that is US only or world-wide D&D players? That's a lower number than the 2.5-3 milllion so I'm wondering if this means that RPGs have declined in the last ten years? It would seem so.
As for the 24 million lapsed players, that would make sense considering the mythical "25 million" number for D&D players in its hey-day in the early 80s. That's when it was a fad for everyone to try it, so that 25 million could be accurate but also included anyone who just played once.
And I bet none of them play 4e.
Taking surveys properly is more expensive than you might think. There aren't too many pure research outfits who care a whit about RPGs. Surely, you don't think one of the publishers is going to undertake such a survey or use such data just for your curiosity? Of course, the public reports will serve the needs of whoever paid for the study.
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Ahnehnois
First Post
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...
***
Seriously, there's no real info out there. Even for more established hobbies it's hard. The membership of the USTA is often reported, but it's not clear how many people play tennis.
Also, as pointed out, there's no one other than WotC (maybe) that would actually pay for the work needed to obtain good data on the subject.
That said, I once asserted offhand when my sister was taking horseback riding lessons that more people in this country play D&D than recreationally ride horses. It would be nice to know whether or not that's actually true.
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...
***
Seriously, there's no real info out there. Even for more established hobbies it's hard. The membership of the USTA is often reported, but it's not clear how many people play tennis.
Also, as pointed out, there's no one other than WotC (maybe) that would actually pay for the work needed to obtain good data on the subject.
That said, I once asserted offhand when my sister was taking horseback riding lessons that more people in this country play D&D than recreationally ride horses. It would be nice to know whether or not that's actually true.
BriarMonkey
First Post
I play with myself. <snark>
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