Seed of Worlds has done some very sensible head to head analysis of the D&D player data released by Wizards of the Coast.
We can somewhat compare 2020 to 2021. I say “somewhat” because kids aged 13 and 14 were dropped from the survey this year. In 2020 people aged 18 to 19 shared a category with those in their early 20s.
Looking at Seed’s breakdown of under-24 year-olds, the results are clear; despite the reductions years available (20 to 24, rather than 18 to 24), there is a greater percentage of D&D players in that category.
The mathematical conclusion is that young adults, people out of school, people in their first, second or third jobs are coming to the hobby.
Seed notes,
In 2020 there was 17% of the population in the 6 year bracket 18-24. By 2021 there was 24% of the population in the 4 year bracket 20-24. This seems to be coherent with an apparent age-up of new joiners; with lots of the recent strong growth of new joiners coming to the hobby in their 20s compared to as teens before 2015.
The same blog post looks at the demographic trends, which continue with change and in the direction established a few years ago – more women are playing the game.
What do you think the chances of consistent survey data being collected and released for next year are?
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