Re: The Past... and the future?!
PatEllis15 said:
As always, thanks for you time Gary...
First:
I recently read an interview you did with CIRO ALESSANDRO SACCO, a multi parter that covered your history in gaming from the birth of RPG's to your current work with LA.
I'd like to say that it reads like an America tragedy... I can't believe all of the pitfalls they lay before you. Your a strong man to have not let them stop you from continuing your work!
Welcome, certainly. I answer such questions for the benefit of those interested, and hopefully to assist others in error avoidance
Fortunately for me I got into this field for love of gaming, not for money and power. What happened was very much a disappointemnt, but it didn't dampen my love for games--creation and playing of them.
SO, in response to this question:
"In your FAQ you write “1973: Gary and Don Kaye form Tactical Studies Rules, an equal partnership” and then “1974: Brian Blume is admitted as an equal (1/3) partner”. Did both of you admit a new partner to help financing the publication of D&D? "
You responded thusly:
"Don and I wanted to get the D&D game out as soon as possible. If we had waited until sales of our one set of military miniatures rules, “Cavaliers & Roundheads”, generated sufficient funds, it would have been 1975 before we could publish."
Can you talk a bit about how things would have been different if not for the untimely death of your friend Don Kaye? Why did you not purchase Don's shares? Why did you pick Brian (whom per the interview you never seemed to be on the same page with) as your third partner?
Anything I have to add must be pure speculation, but...
Had Don not died, he and I would have been the dorecting force behind TSR, not Brian. Don and I had been pals since around age 7, and we shared the same general vision.
I didn't purchase Don's interest in Tactical Studies Rules because I lacked the financial wherewithal at that time.
As for Brain Blume, when he first came into our player group he was seemingly a much different person than the one who emerged later. Don and I made the decision to admit him as an equal partner, as both of us wanted to get the D&D game into print, and we knew that between us we controlled the company. Let this be an object lesson to the young that they are indeed mortal, that life might end at any moment, and therefore to proceed with prudent steps to protect themselves and their heirs.
I must mention that absolutely no one seemed interested in investing in the company, and all that saw the D&D game thought we were quite balmy in thinking it would be popular. It is well enough known that I tried to license the game, as well as DUNGEON!, to The Avalon hill Company in the summer of 1973 before Tactical Studies Rules was formed, and that they turned it down with derisive laughter. Tom Shaw and I shared many a jest about that in years to come
Don Kaye was the only one with vision, so when Brian Blume came along, we assumed that his perspective was similar to that Don and I had. In hindsight a big mistake...
That's the past... now the future...
Hasbro has been busy selling off pieces of the old TSR (Dragon/Dungeon magazine, Gen Con, etc.). I don't see it happening for a few years, as Hasbro will surely beat Revised Edition to death first, but if Hasbro were to put D&D up for sale, would you be interested, and motivated to buy back your brand name?
Thanks for your time!
Pat Ellis
Taro Sarask
There are two reasons I would not be likely to re-acquire the mark and game. First, I do not have the money to do so. Second, I am not attuned to the current form of the game. To cut to the chase, if I had the financial capacity to purchese the rights from Hasbro, I'd use the money to promote and advertise the Lejendary Adventure RPG system instead. there is no baggage of any sort with that game.
Cheers,
Gary
