On a Discord server, a respected #TTRPG creator cited research showing that the average “campaign” (or series of interconnected sessions of the same game with the same group) lasts 6 sessions.
How should this knowledge affect the way we think about, or create for, tabletop RPGs? Understand that there are different audiences for TTRPGs. (For most indie TTRPGs, you're often designing for miniseries or single session length.)
There is a market for single-session RPGs and adventures.
There is a market for minicampaigns
There is a market for long play.— Merric Blackman (@MerricB) September 2, 2021
A game like Dungeons & Dragons is pitched at multiple audiences. It has groups that use it in one-shot and mini-campaign modes, and groups that use it in long term campaigns. If you are not Dungeons & Dragons, consider how much you can support, and what play styles your game does well – and focus on those.
— Merric Blackman (@MerricB) September 2, 2021
Whilst this has not been MY experience (majority of my campaigns/campaigns I've been involved with have been considerably longer) I'm also not too surprised at this.
People are busy. Organising games as adults is very hard. Lots of systems actually work better in short bursts! https://t.co/NJQFND8br5
— Sherlock Hulmes – HighRollers Sun @ 5pm GMT (@sherlock_hulmes) September 2, 2021
The word “Average” and “Campaign” is doing a lot of heavy lifting there. I suspect the vast majority of successful attempts at campaigns burn out after 1-2 sessions, and that is totally going to change the math. Very much so I suspect!
— Sherlock Hulmes – HighRollers Sun @ 5pm GMT (@sherlock_hulmes) September 2, 2021