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

 

[Riley]

That "spectrum" misdirect is really something.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

"I am reminded of a lawyer over on Twitter who has put forth the Rule of Goats, which is... colorfully unprintable on these boards.

It amounts to: If you do a horrid thing for performance, or because it upsets those that you feel are overly sensitive, you still did a horrid thing."


Interesting. I think that's completely wrong, but it's interesting.


My point about Twitter in particular is, no matter it's original intent, it is NOW an uncomfortable mix of performance art and marketing. Not something that should even be mentioned in any serious discussion of someones actual beliefs and opinions.

But it is still insulting if you say it on twitter. If you just did it for likes it is even more terrible...

 

[This Effin’ GM]

Ben Dobyns, the account that TSR responded to with the spectrum defense, only made that one comment to TSR. If that’s picking on Ernie, then I have been teaching my kids the wrong signs to watch out for.

 

[Neonchameleon]

If they want the moral high ground? Yes!

With all due respect "the moral high ground" is less important than dealing with actual bullying by people like Ernie Gygax

And when it comes to people being bullied for what they are and people without a dog in the fight telling them that they have to behave like model citizens and not hit back if they want the moral high ground I've fortunately never been remotely in the position the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King was. So I'm going to quote his Letter from a Birmingham Jail:

I must make two honest confessions to you, my Christian and Jewish brothers. First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.​

The insistence that people being attacked and oppressed for who they are must fit their tactics to what uninvolved bystanders think is "the moral high ground" to me sounds almost identical to "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action".

 

[Black Dougal]

LaNasa and company sound like they learned a lot about gaslighting, fake martyrdom, narcissism, etc.

Not sure if trying to start a company or run for "political" office.

 

[Umbran]

Something something around, find out.

Yeah, but Will Smith projects a certain composure that Gritty... doesn't.

 

[Deset Gled]

My point about Twitter in particular is, no matter it's original intent, it is NOW an uncomfortable mix of performance art and marketing. Not something that should even be mentioned in any serious discussion of someones actual beliefs and opinions.

Marketing has always been the primary goal of Twitter, since before they could afford an "e". Anyone who tells you differently is selling something.

 

[Gradine]

Considering that gender non-comformity and neurodivergence are highly correlated, I'm not really sure what he's on about.

 

[Dessert Nomad]

It is however even more polarizing, you get a point where there is only good and evil. My side and your side. Every little or big misstep is equally punished. That is not helpful if you are interested in a Dialogue.

I have no interest whatsoever in a dialogue, with or without the capitalization, with people who don't consider me and the people close to me fully human. That's not a little misstep, that's a major example of bigotry. This attempt to paint people who don't consider it reasonable to put their basic humanity up for debate as unreasonable for insisting on being treated as full humans is and for not engaging in "Dialogue" about whether they are full humans just makes no sense.

If people in this thread were actually arguing that Ernie and his supporters should be taken and subject to imprisonment and torture until they say they've changed their minds, or that if they suffer an injury that EMTs should refuse to treat them and simply laugh as they bleed out into the street, I don't think you'd be here saying it's polarizing and unreasonable to condemn them. I just doubt that all of this 'both sides' stuff and talk of "Dialogue" would be your response (and certainly wouldn't be the mods' response). Yet the people who Ernie has chosen to ally with want exactly that for LGBT people in the real world (conversion therapy and laws to protect religious-based medical malpractice) and have already passed into law in many places.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

I was surprised when Douglas A. Hamerski MD turned out to be a real person, and not like some character on a TV show or something.

I guess Justinian Lasagna's check didn't clear.

I missed them claiming that they directly started Gen Con. Shameful. All the moreso considering...checks notes...Gen Con in fact predates TSR. In all ways, it's a distortion of the truth.

If Ernie is suffering LaNasa is extending it for selfish purposes. This is so stupid it’s almost comedic if it wasn’t so aweful.
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