TSR TSR3 Blames Widespread Pushback On WotC

In an unexpected turn of events, the primary individuals behind TSR3 have claimed the pushback they've received on social media and elsewhere was orchestrated by .... D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast (a company which has thus far remained completely silent on recent events).

TSR3 is run by Justin LaNasa, Stephen Dinehart, and Ernie Gygax. The controversy has been raging for over a week, since TSR3 announced itself with a press release.

TSR - Companies & Freelancers Distance Themselves From The New TSR

The new TSR (which I refer to as TSR3 to avoid confusion) has doubled down on its stance--which has been widely condemned online--via an ongoing series of tweets and replies from its TSR Games, Giantlands, and Dungeon Hobby Museum social media accounts (possibly operated by Justin LaNasa) in an...

www.enworld.org

Stephen Dinehart and Ernie Gygax have since deactivated their Twitter accounts; Justin LaNasa doesn't appear to have one, but it is believed he is the person operating TSR3's Twitter account. A couple of days ago, Ernie Gygax posted about recent events on Facebook (note that he edited the post, but the original can be seen here).

I wish to state in the strongest terms that I never meant to hurt anyone of any race, creed or color. My video From the Bunker caused some to feel that they would not be welcome or would be looked down upon. That was never the intent, I was reacting to focus of modern role play into a more background and Role Play rather than the wargame that so made so many lives happy over 40 years ago.

As a gamer it meant that most of us were not worthy of any attention from others of our own age. We were Nerds. We were brainy-acks and others would snicker. Older classmen would ask to "borrow" something of ours to then pass back and forth a game of keep away. I used to receive some special attention from about 4 Juniors in my Freshman year. I played the Violin and often I began to wish that I had Super Powers, perhaps become a Giant.. I was far to shy and then embarrassed as attractive ladies would just lower the eyes while the jocks or other socially vibrant fellows had some fun at another geeky nerds expense. Thank goodness I grew 4 inches my junior year.

The only real comfort zone we all could share was a table in the lunch room. At least the fledgling TSR found fertile minds in those who had only those like us - gamers. Rather than have to risk embarrassing myself, since Phy Ed was going to force us to dance with those wonderful and yet scary girls. Well to get my Diploma I had to slave for a month to Mr. Gerber the head of the Phy Ed department. Fortunately I knew all about janitorial work as before D&D and TSR dad only made $5,000 as a Cobbler (five children) and we had food stamps and even free school lunches. Yes you had to go to the councilors office every week to collect your free lunch passes. Obviously you could feel all the eyes on you and the talk about....

Everyone has been welcome at my gaming table and multitudes of new friends have been created by the time spent playing the games we Love. Look at pictures of gaming on my site or anywhere I run games. Everyone is welcome, just like a Boot Hill game leave your guns at the bar until you leave town. If you come to the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum Jeff R. Leason will show you courtesy and a smile and you will see that gaming with elder gamers is a safe and entertaining environment.

TSR - Ernie Gygax on New TSR, WotC Beefs, Trademarks, Licensees, 5E, & More

A YouTube channel, 'Live From the Bunker', interviewed Ernie Gygax about the new TSR. I've watched and decided to try to transcribe the most relevant parts of it, but the full hour-long video is below if you want to see the whole interview and full context. Ernie Gygax is one of D&D...

www.enworld.org

 

[Charlaquin]

It means the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one.

Sorry, I know I’m being pedantic, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Occam’s Razor is “all else being equal, the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one.” It’s an important distinction because a more complex explanation can in fact be more likely than a simpler one, if it’s a better explanation in other ways, such as being more complete. To wit: “a wizard did it” is a very simple explanation for the creation of the universe, but the Big Bang theory is still more likely to be correct, because it’s more complete.

 

[Yaarel]

His dad said women were not capable of liking RPGs.
TSR failed... WotC has a lot of female customers.

To be fair, Gygax felt that fewer women would be interested. He knew there were some women who liked D&D. While he didnt really invite them, he didnt really kick them out either.

 

[Bardic Dave]

He doesn't need permission to do a parody song. But besides it being a nice thing to do, it avoids expensive proceedings where somebody decides to pick an expensive fight over whether a song falls under the legal definition of 'parody'.

And even if it is parody, legally speaking (a battle Weird Al is unlikely to lose), that’s only one of the factors that goes into determining whether something is “fair use”. Another important factor is whether the allegedly infringing work is for-proft. The greater the profit-motive, the less likely the fair use exception applies. That seems particularly relevant for Weird Al, and it’s why he sometimes releases his songs for free when he gas the artist’s permission but not the label’s.

 

[Bardic Dave]

Wow, you folks should see their discord. All business.

Are you able to elaborate?

 

[JRedmond]

Ernie is literally the Donald Trump of RPGs, he's delusional.

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Ernie is literally the Donald Trump of RPGs, he's delusional.

Uh. I dunno about that. But he has certainly written some not so great posts, for sure.

 

[VelvetViolet]

I have the impression that drag queens differ from transgenders. Maybe one is about an archetype, being larger than life. (Which the traditional public can appreciate on a stage for entertainment.) The other is a normal self-identity.

The first time I consciously thought someone was transgender was in college. There was a guy who was member of an LGBTQ group, who I assumed was gay. But on Halloween, for a party, he dressed as a female nurse. It struck me, there was no sense of theatrics or playfulness in a costume. "He" was simply a calmly feminine person in a nurse uniform. Oh, shes a woman.

my point is that bigots don’t distinguish.

also: https://www.presenttensejournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tumblr_mx3a40uWuE1rfwfq9o1_1280.jpg

 

[Sonny]

Sorry, I know I’m being pedantic, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Occam’s Razor is “all else being equal, the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one.” It’s an important distinction because a more complex explanation can in fact be more likely than a simpler one, if it’s a better explanation in other ways, such as being more complete. To wit: “a wizard did it” is a very simple explanation for the creation of the universe, but the Big Bang theory is still more likely to be correct, because it’s more complete.

Completely understandable, I'll try to use the more correct explanation from now on.

 

[CleverNickName]

Sorry, I know I’m being pedantic, but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Occam’s Razor ....

I thought I was the only one!

 

[Charlaquin]

I thought I was the only one!

It’s cause I used to think it was a really dumb heuristic - “simple explanations are wrong all the time!” I thought. When I learned the full version, it made so much more sense.