aramis erak
Legend
No one yet seems to have mentioned the biggest factor: the nearly global COVID-19 lockdowns. It is predicate to several factors:
DDAL was already moving to pay-for-content, but C19 killed the local DDAL nights.
Most RPG stores are not just RPG stores; most also carry CCGs and boardgames, and many also carry comics and collectibles, some even sports cards. RPG sales largely shifted toward online, since so many are facilitated at stores by browsing - something many stores were not permitted to allow during the lockdown, in some places, into 2022.
Non-organized play at stores also suffered for it; some of us skirted the rules and moved games to player's homes; others migrated to VTT play.
COVID also pushed a lot of smaller player count games into the sales channels, both board and RPG. D&D is optimal for 4-6 player; many games now are optimal for 3 to 4.
Solo RPGing also hit a renaissance due to C19... and that meant a bunch of players, getting their fix in one of the several flavors of Solo Play (GM Emulator, Journalling play, paragraph-driven, random dungeon)...
COVID didn't directly cause the end of organized play as a concept, but it pulled purchasers away from stores to online.
Plus, it accelerated DTRPG a good bit, too - buy the PDF; if you like it, then put the cash down at the FLGS for the dead tree, or even just order it POD from DTRPG...
Essentially, the lockdown accelerated a migration that was already happening.
DDAL was already moving to pay-for-content, but C19 killed the local DDAL nights.
Most RPG stores are not just RPG stores; most also carry CCGs and boardgames, and many also carry comics and collectibles, some even sports cards. RPG sales largely shifted toward online, since so many are facilitated at stores by browsing - something many stores were not permitted to allow during the lockdown, in some places, into 2022.
Non-organized play at stores also suffered for it; some of us skirted the rules and moved games to player's homes; others migrated to VTT play.
COVID also pushed a lot of smaller player count games into the sales channels, both board and RPG. D&D is optimal for 4-6 player; many games now are optimal for 3 to 4.
Solo RPGing also hit a renaissance due to C19... and that meant a bunch of players, getting their fix in one of the several flavors of Solo Play (GM Emulator, Journalling play, paragraph-driven, random dungeon)...
COVID didn't directly cause the end of organized play as a concept, but it pulled purchasers away from stores to online.
Plus, it accelerated DTRPG a good bit, too - buy the PDF; if you like it, then put the cash down at the FLGS for the dead tree, or even just order it POD from DTRPG...
Essentially, the lockdown accelerated a migration that was already happening.
