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

 

[Fenris-77]

Can you cook eggs on a white dragon though?

 

[Mort]

Bold of you to assume they have a game plan

Well I did say I suspect the true answer is "these are not smart people..."

Likely, any plan revolves around generating publicity so they can grab money from sympathetic people. But they're playing with fire!

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Can you cook eggs on a white dragon though?

I can cook fire salamander eggs on a white dragon!

 

[Staffan]

....THEN WE MUST CREATE A NEW DUMPSTER FIRE!!!!!!

As Mama Snarf always told me, "Boy, if you can't be a part of the solution, become a part of the problem. Now, get your mama her brandy and her laudanum."

Ah, the Jason Mendoza approach to problem-solving.

 

[Maggan]

Getting back on track, I just REALLY wonder what NewTSR's gameplan is here!

If I would hazard a guess and extrapolate the best plan that comes to mind, I think it goes like this:

1. We reclaimed TSR! Go us!
2. We have a Gygax! Go us!
3. We don't have any games. Bummer.
4. We need customers to know about us!
5. We make a stink about WotC and claim to care about the olden times! Go us!
6. We will lose, but we'll run an IndieGogo to recoup our costs.
7. The grognards will love us!
8. People will know about us and this will give us a good position when the time comes to release a game!
9. Profit

I'm not saying it's a good plan. A better plan would be:

1. Create a cool game that we love! Go us!
2. Release our awesome game! Go us!
3. Sell the game through our web site and the normal channels! Cool!
4. Profit ... maybe.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Ah, the Jason Mendoza approach to problem-solving.

Honestly, this also seems like the TSR(cubed) approach!

 

[Grazzt]

Well, if this is accurate (and apologies if it's been discussed elsewhere in this 20+ page thread), NotTSR sues Wizards of the Coast , the actual paperwork filed doesn't match what they're crying about on the fundraiser page.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Bold of you to assume they have a game plan

I think they do. At least LaNasa. Don't forget he's also a politician, and he's looking at the tactics of a politician whom he aligns with (trying to avoid politics in general discussion, only bringing the comparison to show what his plan is). He sees that person perform grift after grift and people are still giving them money hand over fist as long as you present it as standing up against the "woke agenda". Doesn't matter that none of the promises were ever fulfilled. People keep handing over that sweet cash.

At this point, it's either that, or he's so woefully stupid it would be crippling. I don't think he's that dumb, so I think he's trying to use the successful game plan of someone else (seems to be his forte) and trying to apply it to himself for profit.

 

[Bolares]

I think they do. At least LaNasa. Don't forget he's also a politician, and he's looking at the tactics of a politician whom he aligns with (trying to avoid politics in general discussion, only bringing the comparison to show what his plan is). He sees that person perform grift after grift and people are still giving them money hand over fist as long as you present it as standing up against the "woke agenda". Doesn't matter that none of the promises were ever fulfilled. People keep handing over that sweet cash.

The problem with this logic is... WotC's lawyer will probably be more expensive than he will be given money to pay....

 

[Mort]

I think they do. At least LaNasa. Don't forget he's also a politician, and he's looking at the tactics of a politician whom he aligns with (trying to avoid politics in general discussion, only bringing the comparison to show what his plan is). He sees that person perform grift after grift and people are still giving them money hand over fist as long as you present it as standing up against the "woke agenda". Doesn't matter that none of the promises were ever fulfilled. People keep handing over that sweet cash.

At this point, it's either that, or he's so woefully stupid it would be crippling. I don't think he's that dumb, so I think he's trying to use the successful game plan of someone else (seems to be his forte) and trying to apply it to himself for profit.

Yeah, that was my thought too. But the method here (filing for a copyright declaratory judgement) opens him up to so much liability that the tactic is stupid beyond belief - if WoTC decides to play hardball this could quite literally bankrupt him (not just the company, him personally - he's opened that door).