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

 

[VelvetViolet]

Yeah, he’s calling her disgusting for one of three things: for being trans, for supporting trans rights, or for asking him to show his support for trans rights. The difference between the three, insofar as it reflects on his character, doesn’t seem particularly significant. He’s transphobic no matter how you slice, and particularly nasty about it too.

Or he’s so hopelessly radicalized that he thinks he was having a political message forced on him.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

On a side note, I'm not sure about the statement where Weird Al doesn't need permission to do his parodies. There is obviously his respect for the artist, but I think the issue still comes down to rights owners, no matter who they are, unless you want to drag huge unions into it, because once you crack that seal, you set a precedent.

No, in the US, no one ever has to get permission to do parody or satire of someone else's work. But Al won't do a song if he does not get permission first. He has said so in many interviews.

 

[darjr]

Or he’s so hopelessly radicalized that he thinks he was having a political message forced on him.

eh, that excuse was gaslighting. Did they call anyone else that? I don't think so. It's the lie that highlights the truth.

 

[Bardic Dave]

Or he’s so hopelessly radicalized that he thinks he was having a political message forced on him.

Still transphobic, no? Can’t really get around the fact that it’s the content of the “political message” he finds “disgusting”. Like Gradine said: a distinction without a difference.

Besides, his choice of words is telling: he didn’t say “you’re a commie bastard” or “you’re infringing on my free speech”; he said “you’re disgusting.”

 

[humble minion]

Looks to me like LaNasa is trying to make a conspicuous martyr of himself. He's had political ambitions in the past, maybe he still has them. 'I was oppressed by the Woke Mob and all i got was CANCELLED and this lousy t-shirt, ask me how' is a sales pitch that can get you attention and publicity in certain media circles. I suspect he's trying hard to pull those political/media levers, even though WotC seems to be bent on giving him as little as possible justification to do so.

(Unless WotC's lawyers have been quietly in touch with him and not publicised it, but I doubt that because he'd be screaming it to the skies the second it happened)

Ernie ... urgh. I'd really hoped he'd be better and take a step back and listen to some of the advice he's being given that comes from people other than LaNasa. But it can be a hard thing to admit (to others and to yourself) that you've done something wrong and hurtful when you've got a close business associate (and apparently friend) continually whispering in your ear and telling you how right and courageous you are. Looks depressingly like he's doubling down rather than examine his own behaviour.

 

[VelvetViolet]

Still transphobic, no? Can’t really get around the fact that it’s the content of the “political message” he finds “disgusting”. Like Gradine said: a distinction without a difference.

Besides, his choice of words is telling: he didn’t say “you’re a commie bastard” or “you’re infringing on my free speech”; he said “you’re disgusting.”

If we’re being pedantic, then I think he’s probably homophobic rather than merely transphobic. Bigots don’t make a distinction

 

[Yaarel]

Or he’s so hopelessly radicalized that he thinks he was having a political message forced on him.

This exactly.

Some issues have neither to do with the political left nor to do with the political right.

Human dignity transcends the spectrum of politics.

 

[Steampunkette]

If we’re being pedantic, then I think he’s probably homophobic rather than merely transphobic. Bigots don’t make a distinction

Being one does not override the other. Nor is it helpful to try and paint him as homophobic when he makes flatly transphobic statements.

 

[Yaarel]

If we’re being pedantic, then I think he’s probably homophobic rather than merely transphobic. Bigots don’t make a distinction

To my surprise, the public seems to care more about what clothing people wear than who is having sex with who.

 

[Dyson Logos]

Ernie was an idiot for using social media and now he’s paying the price. I don’t have any sympathy for him because it’s been public knowledge for years now that Twitter is a cesspool. I can’t say more without violating the no politics rule.

Please.

Small companies working in the tiny niche field that we do can live and die based on their social media use. My business is entirely reliant on social media... and most of Morrus' is also I'd bet (this site is bloody social media for crying out loud).

Twitter, FB, and IG account for a huge part of my visiblity, which in turn fuels my patreon and my livelihood.

So it isn't because he used social media, it is because of HOW he used social media.