TSR TSR3.5 Launches IndieGogo Campaign to "Stop" WotC

The latest in the TSR3 saga, which has gone quiet for a while, is a new IndieGoGo campaign launched to "stop Wizards of the Coast". They cite wrongful bullying of TSR, and refusal to answer requests that WotC show TSR "proof of their claims" (although the campaign page doesn't mention what those claims are).

The IndieGoGo campaign was launched yesterday and has so far raised $675 (at the time of writing).

The action TSR seeks is a "Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership" which is a court declaration about the status of something in dispute.

TSR has launched a campaign to stop Wizards of the Coast

Become a Champion of TSR and Support TSR’s campaign against Wizards of the Coast!

TSR is taking a stand against Wizards of the Coast (“WOTC”) and its wrongful bullying of TSR, our trademarks, and its public libeling and slander of all those who helped create TSR based Dungeons & Dragons and products.

Wizards of the Coast has continually bullied TSR regarding TSR’s legally owned Trademarks. Wizards of the Coast has refused to answer all of TSR's repeated requests that they show any proof of their claims. Wizards of the Coast has the vast resources behind them and is implying to bring them to bear down on TSR.

The new TSR suffered widespread pushback when it launched, which they blamed on WotC, claiming that they were under a "coordinated assault across various channels being mounted.... by [WotC]" The company announced itself earlier this year, having acquired the TSR trademark after the previous holder accidentally let it lapse. It was run by Ernie Gygax, Justin LaNasa, and Stephen Dinehart. After several weeks of controversy, the company split into two -- Wonderfilled (Stephen Dinehart), and TSR (Ernie Gygax and Justin LaNasa).

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...

www.enworld.org

The page also indicates an intention to "fight to have WotC's legacy product disclaimer removed" from older products (that's the disclaimer on the older books available on DMs Guild which indicates that those books are products of their time) by claiming that the disclaimer portrays the creators of those older products as "as supporting those alleged prejudices, stereotypes and bigotry, wrongfully claimed to be part of those products".

TSR will also Fight to Have the WOTC Legacy Disclaimer Removed

TSR is suing WOTC for Trademark Declaratory Judgement of Ownership . TSR will also pursue in the near future having WOTC remove the legacy content disclaimer placed on TSR based Dungeons & Dragons and other products, and retractions of any other libel and slander which alleges that racism and other heinous beliefs are incorporated into those products.

This disclaimer attempts to make a statement of fact argument, and therefore paints all of the writers, editors, artists and consumers of those products as supporting those alleged prejudices, stereotypes and bigotry, wrongfully claimed to be part of those products. This statement by Wizards of the Coast opens the possibility for the producers and players of these "Legacy Products" to face ridicule, and face the labeling as "bigots", "racists", "misogynists", and worse Cyber & Physical Attacks!

Wizards of the Coast legacy content disclaimer.

"We (Wizards) recognize that some of the legacy content available on this website does not reflect the values of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise today. Some older content may reflect ethnic, racial, and gender prejudice that were commonplace in American society at that time. These depictions were wrong then and are wrong today. This content is presented as it was originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as claiming these prejudices never existed. Dungeons & Dragons teaches that diversity is a strength, and we strive to make our D&D products as welcoming and inclusive as possible. This part of our work will never end".

TSR3's Justin LaNasa spoke about the campaign in a YouTube video.

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

 

[Neonchameleon]

Second, "how strongly they are reaction" - has WotC done anything? Are we in the same reality?

Based on their court filings WotC has sent them Cease & Desist letters for games like Star Frontiers (because they sell them through Drivethru) and to stop using art WotC owns the copyright to as their trademarks.

 

[darjr]

WotC sent Very polite letters too.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

some of the quotes I'm seeing on youtube are wild

So first of all, if Earnie makes good books, they will sell, and will be competition. There is already a lot of competition, what's one more author? And is Earnie a proven designer?

Second, "how strongly they are reaction" - has WotC done anything? Are we in the same reality?

Calling WotC "creatively bankrupt" just proves that these guys are just listening to deranged gaming-influencers online instead of actually reading newer the D&D books. Disagree all you want on whether or not they were good books, but anyone that has read Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft has to admit that both of them were fairly creative (with the subclasses, magic items, spells, First World, and Draconic Echoes from FToD, the monsters, lineages, and subclasses from VRGtR).

It's especially hilarious because Ernie Gygax and NuTSR hasn't produced anything noteworthy at all, and the things that they've tried to make money from are dice and IPs that they don't have the rights to (oh, and the grifts. You can't forget the grifts). Talk about "creative bankruptcy"

 

[Lanefan]

I know this thread has moved on 10 pages since this was posted, but I only just saw it myself. My guess is that he's probably bitten on one of those schemes where you can buy nominal 'lordship' of a square foot of land in a Scottish conservation reserve. Most people use this as a fun gift or way of contributing to conservation, or as a way of connecting to their Scottish roots. Some take it seriously, or do it because they believe a title gives them more gravitas and credibility when running grifts.

I suspect Mr LaNasa is of the latter variety. And yeah, this sort of thing does not entitle you to call yourself 'sir' to be the best of my knowledge, but given his record on other matters, I suspect Mr Lanasa's understanding of the intricacies of British titles and etiquette maybe isn't as encyclopedically comprehensive as it could be...

Another possibility: that his "knighthood" came from some sort of involvement in the SCA.

 

[CleverNickName]

Calling WotC "creatively bankrupt" just proves that these guys are listening to deranged gaming-influencers online instead of actually reading newer the D&D books. Disagree all you want on whether or not they were good books, but anyone that has read Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft has to admit that both of them were fairly creative (with the subclasses, magic items, spells, First World, and Draconic Echoes from FToD, the monsters, lineages, and subclasses from VRGtR).

It's especially hilarious because Ernie Gygax and NuTSR hasn't produced anything noteworthy at all, and the things that they've tried to make money from are dice and IPs that they don't have the rights to (oh, and the grifts. You can't forget the grifts). Talk about "creative bankruptcy"

Seriously. The Explorer's Guide to Wildemount and Wilds Beyond the Witchlight might not be everyone's cup of tea, but they were some of the most creative and imaginative D&D books written in the last 20 years.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I have to wonder: how is this whole thing okay for platforms such as indiegogo? I mean, can you really be something close to a hate group and scam money out of people in exchange for basically nothing to sue whoever you want for any reason you please, and the site owner is, like, ''sure, go ahead, looks like fun'' ?

I know I joke a lot about those guys, but I'm deeply scared of such persons. The sheer impunity of their action, and the fact that they always find some kind of fish to hook is very scary. I mean, competent or not, these are the kind of persons the ''bad guys'' in any fiction is based on. Most deeply regrettable acts in mankind history have been caused or encouraged by amoral monsters such as those clowns, and now, in soon-to-be-2022, the same type of backward agitator are at it again, without an ounce on consequences should their pathetic aggression maneuver fails (outside of monetary penalty or losing a tattoo parlor).

It is, at least to me, very concerning.

 

[CleverNickName]

It is, at least to me, very concerning.

It's not good, no.

 

[Parmandur]

I have to wonder: how is this whole thing okay for platforms such as indiegogo? I mean, can you really be something close to a hate group and scam money out of people in exchange for basically nothing to sue whoever you want for any reason you please, and the site owner is, like, ''sure, go ahead, looks like fun'' ?

I know I joke a lot about those guys, but I'm deeply scared of such persons. The sheer impunity of their action, and the fact that they always find some kind of fish to hook is very scary. I mean, competent or not, these are the kind of persons the ''bad guys'' in any fiction is based on. Most deeply regrettable acts in mankind history have been caused or encouraged by amoral monsters such as those clowns, and now, in soon-to-be-2022, the same type of backward agitator are at it again, without an ounce on consequences should their pathetic aggression maneuver fails (outside of monetary penalty or losing a tattoo parlor).

It is, at least to me, very concerning.

IndieGoGo is a cesspit. Total Wild West, if it's not outright illegal they don't care as long as they get a cut.

 

[Drake2000]

Yeah, that "bring your girlfriend to the game" one was... sad? memorable? hilarious? That same guy has posted about half the comments over there, and he chipped in only one dollar specifically so he could post comments, so he says. So... I really can't tell if the guy is legit or just trolling them?

I brought my GF to the game back in 1981, and she's still a hard-core gamer to this day. I know this for a fact, since we've been married for over 30 years.

Anecdotal evidence, of course, but I think it beats the heck out of that guy's "girlfriends wrecked the game!" assumption.

 

[darjr]

Yea, I don't think the girlfriend was the problem.