Can Anyone Stand Up To The 800-Lb Gorilla?
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I don’t know why, but one of the biggest questions I often ask myself is, can anyone stand up to the 800-lb gorilla of the roleplaying world, Dungeons & Dragons? D&D has decades of history, name recognition, a popular system, a huge corporation backing it, the lion’s share of the market, and an enormous fan following. Odds are that if you’ve only played one roleplaying game in your life it is probably D&D. I’ve seen statistics from a few different places, but the most recent suggested that D&D holds approximately a 75% share of gamers overall. That means if there are four groups playing roleplaying games, three of them are playing D&D while the fourth is playing something else. Is there any game out there that can challenge D&D for overall supremacy in the roleplaying world?
Who Are The Challengers?
If you count World of Darkness as one game or system, I would put them firmly in second place. Their entire line of products from Vampire, Werewolf, Mage, and beyond have done very well for a long time. Their system is fairly unique and hasn’t changed much overall since its inception. And, most LARPers play some form of a World of Darkness game, which puts them #1 in at least one roleplaying category.
Although Steve Jackson’s GURPS put up a good fight for a while, even he freely admits that the majority of his company’s profits now come from their boxed set games and board games. Their bread and butter has moved away from actual roleplaying games and more towards dominating that particular niche of the roleplaying industry. Munchkin has become a huge seller for them, and he has stated that he doesn’t anticipate that changing anytime soon.
As far as systems go, Savage Worlds has established itself as a simple and easy to use system with unique settings. Although it seems to have established a solid following among those who play it, it still has a long way to go to even catch up to White Wolf’s share of the market, let alone D&D’s. If they were able to put out a dominating setting to go with their system, they may be able to make a push at becoming something bigger. So far their best selling setting has been Deadlands, but I believe they would need a setting even more successful to ascend to the top.
There are numerous other games that have a solid following as well, such as Star Wars Saga (another Wizards of the Coast game), Rifts, Call of Cthulhu, and many others. But do they even have a chance? Is D&D so far ahead now that no challengers will ever be able to catch up?
Why Is It Important That Someone Challenges D&D?
To anyone who knows anything about business, competition is a good thing. Monopoly is never a good thing for anyone. Although I’m not suggesting that D&D has a monopoly on roleplaying by any means, there is no doubt that it is at the top of the food chain. Much like Microsoft Windows is at the top of the computer world; it doesn’t mean that it is the best product out there.
When a particular product is nearly the only option for a buyer, the provider never needs to improve or offer anything better to the client. Some providers even become lazy, letting their services or product degrade over time. I believe that WotC is doing a good job at not letting this happen to D&D, but they might almost be doing too good of a job. I know more people now than ever that are playing D&D as their primary staple roleplaying game.
Who suffers when there is one dominant product in a market? The client, you and me. Clients stuck with a monopoly product can grumble and complain all they want, but they can’t do much about it. When there is good competition in a marketplace, it means everyone has to stay on their toes and offer the best product out there.
I don’t know how many pro-wrestling fans there are out there, but a prime example of this was in the WWF vs. WCW wars in the 1990’s. Both wrestling promotions were constantly battling each other weekly for television ratings. Both companies felt like they were fighting for their very survival. In the end, the fans won out because every week there was quality wrestling events. However, after WCW was acquired by the WWF and essentially disbanded, it left viewers with really only one option to watch. And what happened, wrestling sucked after that. Only recently has that market begun to bounce back with the rise of another challenger, TNA.
I personally don’t think that D&D is in any danger of completely drowning other competitors in its niche, but I do believe that if they have too much success in gaining market share it can, and will, hurt the industry as a whole.
Why Am I Whining? Why Does This Even Matter?!
I believe there needs to be a roleplaying game or system that rises up and challenges D&D. I believe this because I think it will make the roleplaying industry better as a whole. I want to see roleplaying conventions that thrive without D&D being the backbone of the convention. I want to see roleplaying blogs that talk about topics other than just D&D and are able to thrive. I want to see new and inventive roleplaying games and systems capture players’ attention and imaginations. And I want the competition from this new challenger (or challengers) to take the roleplaying industry to a new level.
Are you completely happy with Dungeons & Dragons owning the majority of the roleplaying market?
Is there a game out there that you see could battle Dungeons & Dragons to become the top roleplaying game?
Do you think the rise of a new roleplaying game or system to challenge Dungeons & Dragons would be better for the roleplaying industry?
I want to hear what you think about this!
Leave a Comment
March 18, 2009 at 7:10 am
Are you completely happy with Dungeons & Dragons owning the majority of the roleplaying market?
I wouldn’t say I am completely happy with it owning the majority of the market, but it doesn’t get my panties in a bunch either. Just in the circles I run in, I would say D&D holds less market share. But, I would like to see several solid market research reports on the topic to see exactly where everyone stands.
Is there a game out there that you see could battle Dungeons & Dragons to become the top roleplaying game?
Heh, can we include OGL (D&D 3.5 based) games? If so, I think Paizo’s Pathfinder could eventually do battle with D&D (though still doubt it would actually become the top game).
Two factors will have to be present for D&D to lose its top spot: D&D will have to screw up big time, and its competitors will have to take advantage of it.
Do you think the rise of a new roleplaying game or system to challenge Dungeons & Dragons would be better for the roleplaying industry?
I think competition is good for everyone. It forces everyone to design better games, which means players win overall.
The problem at hand is a declining economy, shrinking industry, and competition from video/computer games. With the market downsizing, only those in the strongest position will survive… those with money (Hasbro, CCP). Though I think community (free/open) content is the way of the future.
Mad Brew’s last blog post..Tested: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition
March 18, 2009 at 7:15 am
I just had another thought. I would say that if another game were to come into existence that could topple Wizards, it would have to be released with a licensed setting of something really popular (think World of Warcraft, Harry Potter, Heroes [TV series], Marvel/DC comics, Lord of the Rings) and it would probably have to scale in complexity and utilize several forms of play (think collectable cards, minis, etc.), and would have to have a competitive price point (sub $25).
A game system
March 18, 2009 at 7:17 am
I completely agree with you. There does need to be a true sense of competition in the industry. You can look at pretty much any industry and find there is a definite #1 & #2 slot being filled, with 3,4,5…. running further behind, but still in the game. In computers it is Microsoft and Apple, with Linux tagging along. In comics it is Marve & DC, with other companies like Dark Horse and Image not directly challenging them, but making their presence known. Staying closer to the gaming community everyone is aware of the competition and constant place changing of the three main video game giants Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Yet in the world of pen and paper gaming it is D&D with no real competition. The other gaming companies, though good in their own way, really don’t pose a threat to D&D. In the industries I mentioned previously, the possibility of losing #1 spot is a very real threat, something D&D doesn’t have to worry about.
I see several reasons for this.
1. WotC sees itself as the big gun and acts accordingly. Not too arrogant, but arrogant enough that other companies are afraid to truly challenge them.
2. WotC has the cash to back up their arrogance.
3. WotC has decades worth of loyal fans.
4. WotC has the daddy of all RPG gaming, D&D.
5. D&D is more than just a brand name, it is iconic, like Coke or Google. Even non gamers know that Dungeons and Dragons exist, and have some vague idea what it is about. Take the recent movie Role Models, in which one of the characters is a LARPer. When describing the character they say he is lost in his world of Dungeons and Dragons. Even though the game he plays is a fantasy based live action battle simulation called Lair, or something like that. D&D represents an entire industry, it is both a title and a label for that industry and the people who enjoy it. This even came up last year in the presidential elections where McCain’s blogger stated something about Obama supporters being liberal, anti-war, dungeons and dragons players. An entire subculture is associated with the D&D brand.
The only possible way for there to be real competition is for someone to create a system that can have the same recognition. For non comic book readers many have no idea that Superman and Spiderman are published by different companies. As far as they know there is only one company and it is the characters that are what they remember. RPGs need something similar to that.
6. A game needs to be created that captures the imagination of the players as D&D has.
7. A game needs to be created that is not just another D&D clone. Mutants & Masterminds has the potential to do this, as it is truly a great game, but they need to up the marketing and put everything behind the brand. Rifts, Hero, HEX, Savage Worlds, Star Wars & CoC all have the potential but suffer from either complexity issues or narrow focus. Fantasy appeals to a much broader audience. With science fiction, horror and superheroes coming in a distant second and seen as niche. Savage Worlds is a little different, but as you mentioned they don’t have that one setting that really grabs gamers.
So to sum it up the only way for anyone to challenge the 800lb gorilla is to be just like them, but in a completely different way.
Geek Gazette’s last blog post..Who is the greatest warrior on Spike TV
March 18, 2009 at 7:25 am
I think if you change the orientation of the system by adding cards and such you end up creating a new type of game rather than a true competitor. If that were the case then Magic and Video games would be direct competitors with D&D. While they are in competition for our limited amount of $$$ they are not exactly in direct competition. If that were the case then comics/graphic novels would be seen as direct competition for novels and movies. Related yes, but not directly in competition.
March 18, 2009 at 7:47 am
The thing I think that’s important to remember is that WotC plays by different expectations than everyone else. If Paizo or Steve Jackson sell 10,000 copies of a game, it’s a smashing success. If WotC does the same, that might mean a horrible flop. Yeah, WotC is the biggest kid by far on the playground, but that’s doesn’t mean they’re invulnerable.
I think WotC’s biggest competitor is bound to be its own corporate overlords. As we saw with Topps/WizKids, profit doesn’t always mean enough profit to stick around. If something shifted in the corporate world, it wouldn’t be too hard to image the game of D&D dwindling down to a lightly or rarely-supported game, while the computer game licenses and fiction lines continue.
So right, now, no, no one competes in items sold. I think Paizo equals or even surpasses them in terms of production quality and writing. But in sales, there is no competition—yet.
Zachary’s last blog post..Gaming In 1991: Top RPGs
March 18, 2009 at 8:06 am
For the non-gamers, all RPG’s are D&D. They just don’t see a difference.
Personally, I see Paizo’s Pathfinder putting up some competition with WOTC. But in reality it’s still just D&D.
As gamers, we have to be willing to try new games. I just think there are too many people who will only play one game. It doesn’t matter whether it’s D&D, WoD, Savage Worlds or what. Try something new now and then. I know dollars are short now but there’s always conventions and pick up games at FLGS.
Chuck’s last blog post..Cursed Empire for Savage Worlds
March 18, 2009 at 8:33 am
Our group hasn’t even touched anything 4E let alone bought it; while they might be bringing in new customers, WotC really killed loyalty this time around.
Viriatha’s last blog post..Steampunk Atmosphere
March 18, 2009 at 8:41 am
I’m in two different groups right now… in one I play, in the other I run.
I really do like D&D 4E. I don’t know if it’s because of how the new powers work (as a player) or if it’s because the system is easier to run (as a GM).
I have to wonder, though, after getting a character into the epic tier, am I going to want to do it all again with a new character, or will I start to think the game system is too childish? Characters being too cookie-cutter’ish. I don’t know. I think it could happen though.
From the beginning, I’ve always thought the new 4E was a softened game, opening the doors for younger players. Yes, we can use the system any way we like, but in the end, more groups will fall back on combat with this game becuase the rules and powers help that happen.
Maybe, in the end, people will start to say, “Hey, we want more… more ROLEplaying material – where the game is not 75% combat powers.”
Then again, maybe I’m one of a very few who think this, and maybe this gorilla is King Kong for a reason.
March 18, 2009 at 8:45 am
800 lb Gorilla? More like 8 oz canary. It might be bigger than the other canaries fluttering around, but to all but a statistical hiccup of people in the world RPG means things like WoW or Final Fantasy.
Really, though, I don’t see it making any difference. They could stop selling D&D tomorrow, they could stop selling any form of table-top RPG whatsoever tomorrow, and my players and I would continue to meet every Friday and Sunday and play the same things we’re playing right now. Heck, if all the RPG publishers went out of business, it might provide a surge of interest for all the great free games out there and revitalize the hobby. RPGs are the ultimate thing you can do yourself…unlike practically every other hobby in the world that at least needs raw materials and maybe tools, you don’t actually need a marketplace to deliver anything to you. You can even make do without dice if it comes right down to it. So if civilization ends, at least we’ll still have RPGs
Joshua’s last blog post..4e For Grognards?
March 18, 2009 at 8:47 am
I think the future of gaming is on the computer – not through MMO’s like WoW, they’re something different all together – 3d chat clients that are designed specifically to host a particular game system so that it can be played the traditional method via tabletop *or* online without changing the mechanics any. White Wolf is now part of CCP so I think in the next 3 years you’ll see them bring WoD into the digital realm in a big way. They did some great things back in the day with Vampire Redemption and if anyone is going to revolutionize digital role-playing I think they’re definitely in the running to be first.
The fact is the internet and role-playing go hand in hand, and tabletop games as they sit are on the decline while players who enjoy RPG’s are becoming more numerous. Once developers have managed to marry the way a GM can create a story to the digital realm, you’ll see a huge surge in the industry as a whole.
Helmsman’s last blog post..… In Which I Save the Print Industry
March 18, 2009 at 9:58 am
There is a growing free/indie press scene that isn’t stepping up to take market share (though I wonder if Risus or Microlite74 could…) Gaming distribution and the trouble that FLGS’s have in getting hold of games is IMHO one of the biggest problems the industry has.
Yes, WoTC command an impressive lead and OGL saw them shed a few franchises (Dark Sun, Ravenloft) which in the right hands could have made people a lot of money. The fact that they didn’t speaks volumes about how the market works and whether more innovation was needed. I also think that the current distribution model for 4E will keep it running for maybe 4 years before 5E hits the tables.
I think Helmsman has a point in that the online arena has much to offer the RPG world; I’m not sure that WoW-ing D&D or nWOD will be the solution though – there’s fails in the MMORPG arena from big franchises. I think virtual gaming tables are one option. I have a couple of ideas as well but you’ll have to see what happens next.
The revolution, when it comes, will be something painfully obvious if we had only but thought of it. It will not be a big franchise reseller because franchise games are at saturation point. It will look gorgeous, be reasonably priced and have an overall enabling approach to gaming.
My sincere apologies to the grognards on that last one but we know counting iron spikes and falling into deathtraps isn’t fun unless you set it up like Paranoia did.
satyre’s last blog post..browser tricks, tiddlywiki things and writemonkey
March 18, 2009 at 10:36 am
I don’t think it would change my gaming life all that much. I play my own things, mostly, and people here are not particularly fanatic D&D advocates.
The kind of gaming I do can’t benefit from a series of supplements; let me do my own imagining. I doubt any rpg that could compete with D&D would use some more sensible business model.
March 18, 2009 at 10:38 am
@Geek Gazette: Heh, well power cards have already gained wide-spread acceptance and there are plans to release powers not found in the books with the D&D minis… which is exactly the direction I am talking about.
Mad Brew’s last blog post..Tested: Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition
March 18, 2009 at 11:06 am
@ Mad Brew
We don’t use the power cards and I honestly had forgotten about them, but now I see your point. As for the minis, we still use them the way we always did, as nothing but markers to determine position, when needed. With the exception of my Black Dragon and a couple of goblin prepainted D&D minis, we still use the old paint them yourself kind that come with no stat cards. Besides I prefer painting them myself and really don’t care that much about plastic prepaints. We also still use graph paper to make maps, assuming we even use maps.
I really like 4e and D&D in general, but I’m not that keen on the more is better. If I had to have cards and minis to play it would feel more like a boards game and I have Heroscape for that.
I have a ton of other games I enjoy playing and even more I want to play. So D&D isn’t my only game, just the primary one. Unfortunately groups I have gamed with are less likely to try anything but D&D. They don’t care if it is a new addition as long as the cover has Dungeons and Dragons on it.I get to sneak the occasional new game in, like HEX or Rifts, but it always goes back to D&D.
As for all RPGs being D&D, yes and no. If they are fantasy oriented then I agree non gamers see them all as D&D. As for sci-fi, pulp and horror, most people don’t even know they exist. If a nongamer happened to come over when we were playing HEX or Serenity, they were actually more interested in learning about it. That is until someone said “It’s like D&D”, at which point their eyes glazed over and we lost them.
So D&D is an easily recognizable brand which is good, and/or bad, depending on the non gamers perception.
Geek Gazette’s last blog post..Who is the greatest warrior on Spike TV
March 18, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Recently, I have taken upon myself to move my group away from D&D. From all of the system I have looked into, I came to really like Savage Worlds.
Savage Worlds has a lot of the things I like about D&D, and I can see it becoming a major player in the near future.
Cole’s last blog post..Angelino Cornicen, The Bard
March 18, 2009 at 1:27 pm
At the moment, I think D&D’s biggest competition is it’s own history. There are a lot of people still playing previous editions of the game, especially 3.x. WotC has to keep moving forward to replace the splinters it leaves behind.
March 18, 2009 at 2:14 pm
That D&D has the majority of the RPG market doesn’t bother me. I play D&D and am happy with 4e, it adds new elements and corrects some things I disliked about the previous edition.
I don’t think there is another gaming company that will give Wizards/D&D a run for their money. I think that there are companies that may come up with innovative idea’s that will push the whole genre forward. This is something that I welcome and embrace.
I’m with Helmsman that the future of RPG’s will more and more be tied to online content. We are already seeing this with Monte Cooke’s Dungeon A Day. I have no doubt that Wizards is watching this initiative with a keen eye. My hope is that they will do more with their own digital offering and make the Insider be what they first promised and more.
Wimwick’s last blog post..Why Wizards Missed The Boat With The Insider
March 18, 2009 at 7:19 pm
True competition comes from innovators, not big companies. Gaming is a bit unique because suits don’t really understand it, so they rely on geeks to handle most things. This is largely true in many geek-tech areas, too.
You get competition from the little guys. A little game that grows, and grows, and grows on the strength of its ideas and innovation becomes the competition. A game that cuts out 5% of the market share is something Wizards will notice and they have to compete against that to stay on top.
Two large companies don’t generally compete as much as people assume, they collude. If there were two industry giants, I guarantee prices would go up. The larger the companies, and the more numerous, the less concerned they are with competing with each other and the more concerned they are in manipulating the market for mutual benefit.
March 19, 2009 at 12:02 am
Tabletop RPGs are a niche within a niche. You have to buy books, learn the rules, AND find 4-6 more people who are willing to do the same. It’s easier to just stick with old reliable DnD, it doesn’t hurt that I really like 4e.
Besides, DnD has plenty of competition from other hobbies, namely video games. The biggest RPG in the world is WoW, and it weighs a hell of a lot more then 800lbs.
March 19, 2009 at 3:40 am
There are quite a few games, systems, and companies that have pieces of the puzzle to compete with D&D and WotC.
I think White Wolf, as a company, has good products and a good company. They also are established and not going away anytime soon.
Savage Worlds is a great system, but I really think they need a good, main stream setting to go with it.
Paizo has really connected with an audience. But I think they will always be too much in D&D’s shadow to ever overcome them.
Shadowrun sure has a lot of potential with multiple video games, years of history, and good fan backing, but their system is garbage.
Honestly, Alpha Omega has some of the best artwork I’ve ever seen. They done a good job at marketing their product as well. The complexity of their system may chase away some players though.
There are more, of course, with lots of potential. But I don’t so one in particular that has moved completely forward yet.
March 19, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I’m rooting for pretty much any system BUT D&D. While a lot of my fond childhood memories are from D&D, 4e has completely ruined it imo. It could be argued that they really gave you more options than “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” but really the options feel so bland and vanilla that they don’t seem to make much, if any, impact on your character.
After you get the feats that are basic pre-reqs for each class you’re left with extra feats that feel lack-luster and really almost make you feel like you’re wasting your time just searching through them to find a good one.
On top of that, even with an amazing GM, you’re left with skills that really don’t matter much and a game that, at the heart of it, is really just hack and slash. Overall they’ve moved so far away from roleplaying that they’ve even standardized roleplaying encounters by calling them skills challenges.
Personally I’ve always LOVED the White Wolf system. The freedom allowed to the GM, the players and the ability to really tell a deep, riveting story without always having to resort to just straight combat.
While Spycraft V2.0 is also a d20 game I don’t feel that it completely qualifies as they’ve REALLY made a great system with skills that truly matter and the ability to have fun in the game even if you’re not a combat monkey.
Overall I truly hope that the D&D mind-set kind of dies down a bit because otherwise we’ll be stuck with just that in the future and a lot of the innovation that we’re seeing in other areas will simply die off.
March 19, 2009 at 1:55 pm
@Bryan: For Truth!
Helmsman’s last blog post..Understanding Exalted
March 20, 2009 at 5:29 am
Something else to consider is that the “heart and soul” of the RPG industry really is a fairly small group of people almost all of which has worked for WOTC (D&D) at one time or another. Look through virtually any RPG’s credits and I bet you will find at least one designer or developer who has been involved with D&D.
Regardless of any individual’s feelings toward D&D it is the game that allows the industry to exist and drives it forward. Virtually every indy RPG out there was designed by someone looking for something that D&D didn’t provide. Every gamer has played D&D and that’s not something anyone else can say, and maybe never will.
I play lots of different RPG’s but the thing I’ve noticed is that no matter how good the other RPG I have a hard time playing it for more than a few months and then always find myself drawn back to D&D. A lot of RPG’s are like that great video game you buy but only play all the way through once, where for me D&D is like Halo, Half-Life, or Dawn of War, I can (and have) played through those games multiple times each and they never get old.
One last consideration, every industry needs a juggernaught to keep the industry alive. Wargaming, for example has Warhammer / Games Workshop, the computer industry has Microsoft, these giants drive everything. They keep interest in their areas up, they inspire inovation, and they help keep their respective industries profitable. If the “giant” stops doing well so to do all the others suffer.
John Lewis’s last blog post..Can Anyone Stand Up To The 800-Lb Gorilla?
March 20, 2009 at 1:13 pm
I agree 100% that every industry needs the big names, I guess I would just prefer to see it more akin to the console gaming industry where there are three big names all doing well and filling their own niche.
August 3, 2009 at 7:38 am
For traditional fantasy RPGing, Paizo is the future for me, no question.
It won’t ever beat D&D in terms of market, but it dosent have to. IMO PF will only benefit from D&D existing.
I think, really, that we should be glad that we actually HAVE an 800lb gorilla in this hobby… Without D&D and it’s remarkable brand recognition and cultural presence there is a strong argument to say that this genre of gaming would have died out years ago.
I don’t play 4e, but I am very very glad that it exists.
August 3, 2009 at 8:33 am
@ Vesavius – I am happy that D&D is there are a flagship product to carry the hobby. If nothing else, for the players that don’t like D&D it still has that.