Vayden
First Post
Let me say one thing first here - I never buy from Amazon. Just personal preference - I like to pick a book up and look it over, then be able to start reading it as soon as I pay for it. I buy about 60% of my gaming stuff from LGSs, and 40% from Borders (close to work, better hours, better prices, has coffee, etc). I routinely and happily pay that little bit extra to my LGSs, because I like the stores and I like having them around.
That said, I think any argument that LGSs are integral to the survival and growth of D&D is ridiculous. They may have been 10-20 years ago, but at this point, geek culture is everywhere. Everyone has at least a vague idea of what D&D is, and if they want to find out more, WotC, ENWorld, and a dozen other sites are a quick google-search away.
Of the 20-30 20something players I know, one got his start through a LGS, and frankly, he's the 2nd worst DM I've ever seen. Realistically, you get into this game because a friend invites you to play. Not because you went into the geek shop in the plaza on a whim and the man behind the counter sold you on the idea of rolling dice. The game's health has everything to do with the game and the playerbase, and nothing to do with LGSs.
That said, I think any argument that LGSs are integral to the survival and growth of D&D is ridiculous. They may have been 10-20 years ago, but at this point, geek culture is everywhere. Everyone has at least a vague idea of what D&D is, and if they want to find out more, WotC, ENWorld, and a dozen other sites are a quick google-search away.
Of the 20-30 20something players I know, one got his start through a LGS, and frankly, he's the 2nd worst DM I've ever seen. Realistically, you get into this game because a friend invites you to play. Not because you went into the geek shop in the plaza on a whim and the man behind the counter sold you on the idea of rolling dice. The game's health has everything to do with the game and the playerbase, and nothing to do with LGSs.
