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Old 09-06-2020, 05:12 AM   #1
Anders
 
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Default D&D Resurgence

I saw an article about D&D making a resurgence. As D&D goes, so goes the industry - so has SJG noticed anything on this front? Is GURPS doing better the last year?
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Old 09-18-2020, 10:44 AM   #2
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

I'd be interested to hear about this too, though I'd imagine COVID-19 introduced a number of wildcard factors, both good and bad.

I could imagine impulse purchases from folks down at the gaming store would be pretty uncommon, but then interest in digital RPG materials while in quarantine would be higher.

Hopefully the KS project has worked out well for SJG and the GURPS line, and presents a stable alternative source of income stream as well as product promotion.
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Old 09-18-2020, 03:03 PM   #3
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

I wonder how much of any resurgence is due to the fact that I'm seeing a "D&D Essentials Kit" on the shelves at Target, exposing it more widely to a mass-market audience. (Or is it showing up on Target's shelves BECAUSE it is enjoying a resurgence?)
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Old 09-18-2020, 08:52 PM   #4
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

I think it's necessary to recognize that D&D is on an entirely different level from every other RPG on the market, because of almost half a century's history and because for many people who only casually know about the industry, roleplaying and D&D are basically synonyms. There is no meaningful way to compare D&D with GURPS, or FATE, or Savage Worlds, or even Pathfinder; there's D&D and there's everyone else, and they aren't running in the same circles.
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Old 09-24-2020, 05:48 AM   #5
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

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Old 10-02-2020, 05:45 AM   #6
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

A lot of folk watch people play D&D on the internet.

I think that a little more footage on Youtube of people playing GURPS might attract players.
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Old 10-05-2020, 03:13 PM   #7
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

One thing to keep in mind with all the Live Play games being popular right now is that the big one (Critical Role) and quite a few of the others, aren't just people playing the game. The people playing are seasoned actors as well.

Even some of the smaller live plays that I personally know people in are headed up by community or professional theater actors, directors, and producers. The ones that are successful aren't just treating this as an exercise in playing their game with cameras on. These are productions designed to entertain, and more goes into that than just getting streaming set up.
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Old 10-05-2020, 06:23 PM   #8
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aleph View Post
One thing to keep in mind with all the Live Play games being popular right now is that the big one (Critical Role) and quite a few of the others, aren't just people playing the game. The people playing are seasoned actors as well. ...These are productions designed to entertain, and more goes into that than just getting streaming set up.
I think these are very good points. GURPS can't hope to compete online with D&D. Something as slick and popular as Critical Role isn't on the cards. Having said that that, much less impressive productions are also much easier. If you can get all the players in on a Zoom session, that's pretty much all you need. Fans could do it (and some have, bless 'em). And if SJG is looking to put on demo games anyway, it might be good to have some available online.

I recognize that I'm speculating. I have zero experience in the game industry.
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Old 10-06-2020, 04:06 PM   #9
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg 1 View Post
I think these are very good points. GURPS can't hope to compete online with D&D. Something as slick and popular as Critical Role isn't on the cards. Having said that that, much less impressive productions are also much easier. If you can get all the players in on a Zoom session, that's pretty much all you need. Fans could do it (and some have, bless 'em). And if SJG is looking to put on demo games anyway, it might be good to have some available online.

I recognize that I'm speculating. I have zero experience in the game industry.
Sure, people can just put their Zoom sessions online. The point I'm trying to make though is that normal tabletop RPG sessions aren't that entertaining to watch for those that are not involved in the game. Most of us probably wouldn't even be particularly interested in re-watching our own sessions. It takes a degree of showmanship and performance to make that sort of thing into entertainment that others are going to be interested in tuning in for. And marketing and promotion on top of that to get people there in the first place.

We experimented with the format ourselves last year, with our Live in the Labyrinth show, using the people and setup we had on hand. We learned a lot in the process, and have used that to improve our in-house studio and streaming. But nearly a year later, less than 350 people have actually watched through to the final episode, so I'm not sure I'd say we were very successful with the format.
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Old 10-12-2020, 12:35 AM   #10
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Default Re: D&D Resurgence

D&D is bigger than it's EVER been. Yes, bigger than the craze of 1981 or the height of 3.X.

My understanding is that there's been only a small flow-on to other tabletop RPGs. And what there is, is fragmented among vastly more systems than in the past.
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