TSR Staff Levels at TSR

In the early 1980s, the staff levels at D&D publisher TSR* peaked at near 400 people, although by the mid-80s it had dropped back down to below 100. D&/D historian Jon Peterson (whose book Game Wizards: The Epic Battle for Dungeons & Dragons is coming out soon!) charts the figures from 1976 through to 1985.

*That's the original TSR, not the current TSR!

Game Wizards: TSR Staffing

The above model, drawn from the narrative of Game Wizards , shows roughly how many people TSR had on staff between 1976 and 1985. Obvious...

playingattheworld.blogspot.com

 

[Dragonhelm]

If you want to have some fun, put that address into Google Maps and you can look at the building via the street view.

I've driven past there years ago, circa 2002. It was neat to see where TSR once was.

 

[Hussar]

Wonder how history would have played out if one of those "investment companies" had picked up TSR back then.

 

[darjr]

If you want to have some fun, put that address into Google Maps and you can look at the building via the street view.

I've driven past there years ago, circa 2002. It was neat to see where TSR once was.

Neat! Thanks!

 

[darjr]

Wonder how history would have played out if one of those "investment companies" had picked up TSR back then.

I think those investment companies were wotc.

 

[Deset Gled]

I think those investment companies were wotc.

I think that article was from 1985, which means WotC didn't exist yet.

I think the "investment companies" here would have been when Lorraine Williams bought the Blumes shares of TSR.

 

[Tsuga C]

Wonder how history would have played out if one of those "investment companies" had picked up TSR back then.

Probably not well. Cerberus Capital picked up Chrysler and didn't really understand the specifics of the automobile business and it didn't result in anything positive. Investment groups are all about finances and profiteering. The ethical and wise ones want to do more than streamline operations and milk the purchased entity for short-term profits, but those are in the minority. Any investment group that picked up TSR would've had to have had a good understanding of RPGs, the RPG industry, and RPG players to make a good go of it and I don't find that a likely possibility.

 

[aco175]

People pay $60,000 taxes on that building, but is close to Piggly Wiggly and a Dollar Tree.

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Probably not well. Cerberus Capital picked up Chrysler and didn't really understand the specifics of the automobile business and it didn't result in anything positive. Investment groups are all about finances and profiteering. The ethical and wise ones want to do more than streamline operations and milk the purchased entity for short-term profits, but those are in the minority. Any investment group that picked up TSR would've had to have had a good understanding of RPGs, the RPG industry, and RPG players to make a good go of it and I don't find that a likely possibility.

That doesn't make sense to me. An investment group/venture capitalist only picks up businesses they can turn a profit on, for sure. What would be the point of such a group picking up TSR unless they understood the business? How could you possibly turn a profit on an acquisition otherwise? Were there assets that they could sell off for a profit? A customer base they could leverage for more profitable purposes? No.

 

[MGibster]

Any investment group that picked up TSR would've had to have had a good understanding of RPGs, the RPG industry, and RPG players to make a good go of it and I don't find that a likely possibility.

From many accounts, it doesn't look like TSR had a good understanding of RPGs, the RPG industry, or RPG players and they managed to be fairly profitable for a number of years.