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

 

[CleverNickName]

I’m still befuddled at people who are literally using the IP of someone else and basing their entire business image on the work of someone else 50 years ago calling other people creatively bankrupt.

I know right? They bought someone else's work with the sole intent of reselling it...while claiming that their competitors are all out-of-touch hacks who lack creativity.

 

[Faolyn]

No. It is just recognition of the point that you are making use of a shared virtual space to get more readers - people who you'd not ever have contact information for to e-mail them. You connect with people here ever day without e-mailing them, texting them, making a video call, or whatever. EN World is just a small, subject specific facebook.

The overall utility of such a thing comes with burdens - like a need to monetize the thing. And how you get some real gems of numbskulls and jerks from time to time.

To be fair, there's a difference between posting for the world in general and keeping in touch with people you actually know, which is what I think Snarf meant when they talked about using email or a phone call.

Whether facebook is better for either of those things, I don't know. I've never actually had a facebook. Or a twitter. Or a MySpace, actually.

 

[Faolyn]

I am also a Author. Me and My daughter Mary wrote a children's book My Name is Cheezza Not Pizza, she gave me the idea to write a children's book to have a slice of Cheezza travel around the world seeing were vegetables origins are from.

Hmm, idea inspired by or stolen from the 1994 children's book How to Bake an Apple Pie and See the World?

 

[Sacrosanct]

Hmm, idea inspired by or stolen from the 1994 children's book How to Bake an Apple Pie and See the World?

Magic 8 Ball says, "Based on history, you already know."

 

[Sir Brennen]

I know right? They bought someone else's work with the sole intent of reselling it...while claiming that their competitors are all out-of-touch hacks who lack creativity.

They bought someone else's cheap dice from a retail store with the sole intent of reselling them.

That was... mind-boggling low-rent for a company trying to pass themselves off as the true princes of the former TSR kingdom.

 

[CleverNickName]

They bought someone else's cheap dice from a retail store with the sole intent of reselling them.

That was... mind-boggling low-rent for a company trying to pass themselves off as the true princes of the former TSR kingdom.

Given their history, I'd be fascinated to hear what TSR³'s definition of "creativity" is.

 

[J.Quondam]

Given their previous business practices, I'd be fascinated to hear what their definition of "creativity" is.

Cookbook: "The Grifter's Guide to Making Grits"

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

To be fair, I think the satire account is considered more trustworthy and honest than the actual guy doing PR.

wow I miss read that... I thought it was real.

Based on what they're saying, they seem to really believe that they are the original TSR (or want to present it as if they do). Which is one heck of a delusion.

The important thing to remember is THEY ARE NOT THAT TSR. They are grifters trying to take advantage of our nostalgia.

Sigh...these sorts of screeds rile me up. Like, I'm in my 40s, and started playing at age 9, so I'm roughly in the same ballpark, presumably. And yet I stand in diametric opposition to everything said within it.

And "onion-belted, cloud-fist-shaking grognardery" is a glorious turn of phrase.

Here's the latest diatribe to appear on their indiegogo campaign page, true masterclass in gatekeeping, whiny grievance, and the worst of onion-belted, cloud-fist-shaking grognardery:

View attachment 148110

"Won't someone think of the children??!?"

* chef's kiss! *

 

[Sacrosanct]

I'm a fan of ironies and cooincidence, so I find it a bit funny that this image, a part of something they profess to love so much, unintentionally also describes them to a T

 

[Fenris-77]

And "onion-belted, cloud-fist-shaking grognardery" is a glorious turn of phrase.