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

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I will be forever filled with outrage and indignation and bile, for Kellogg's utter betrayal when they renamed "Super Sugar Crisp" cereal to "Super Golden Crisp." I will carry this unforgiving hatred to my grave. HOW DARE THEY kowtow to the anti-sugar panic of the late 1980s?!?! I will make them pay.*

Have you considered just eating cookies for breakfast?

 

[CleverNickName]

Have you considered just eating cookies for breakfast?

WAAAAAY ahead of you.

 

[ShadowofNarcissus]

This is all utter nonsense.

You'

They released a new version of D&D that turned out to be less popular than the previous edition.

Then they realized new version that turned out to be super-popular.

Personifying a corporate subsidiary into an abuser or taking their business decisions personally probably isn't a good idea...

The majority of corporate types are clinically narcissistic/sociopathic. WOTC is no exception. It's just part of the job and how most corporations survive. Believing otherwise is more than a little bit of wishful thinking.

If WOTC had their consumers best interests in mind, they would never have created 4E without providing game support for their nonMillenial consumers. Instead, they attempted to create something that would lure in a new generation of gamers and gave the older generations that grew up with D&D the proverbial middle finger.

They had a good idea (create new stuff), but their implementation of it was hamfisted at best and outright cruel/disrespectful at worst. I love WOTC, but they made a gigantic mistake and all the love in the world for WOTC won't erase that mistake. D&D for many is a beloved hobby. In some cases, its a way to cope with reality.

People generally don't like it when you take a beloved hobby/game and turn it into something that barely resembles the original. It's like changing most of the ingredients in a batch of cookies and trying to say its the same kind of cookie. It just doesn't work. Is it a good cookie? Sure. For those who like it. ...but for those who don't...it's like pissing on their cookies.

 

[CleverNickName]

The majority of corporate types are clinically narcissistic/sociopathic. WOTC is no exception. It's just part of the job and how most corporations survive. Believing otherwise is more than a little bit of wishful thinking.

If WOTC had their consumers best interests in mind, they would never have created 4E without providing game support for their nonMillenial consumers. Instead, they attempted to create something that would lure in a new generation of gamers and gave the older generations that grew up with D&D the proverbial middle finger.

They had a good idea (create new stuff), but their implementation of it was hamfisted at best and outright cruel/disrespectful at worst. I love WOTC, but they made a gigantic mistake and all the love in the world for WOTC won't erase that mistake. D&D for many is a beloved hobby. In some cases, its a way to cope with reality.

People generally don't like it when you take a beloved hobby/game and turn it into something that barely resembles the original. It's like changing most of the ingredients in a batch of cookies and trying to say its the same kind of cookie. It just doesn't work. Is it a good cookie? Sure. For those who like it. ...but for those who don't...it's like pissing on their cookies.

The Shadow doth protest too much, methinks.

That "giant mistake" turned a multimillion 1.3 billion-dollar profit last year, so...

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

WAAAAAY ahead of you.

I logged a lot of miles on the keyboard this morning. And I downed a lot of donuts.

Little Chocolate Donuts. They taste good, and they’ve got the sugar I need to get me going in the morning.

That’s why Little Chocolate Donuts have been on my training table since I first started making comments on the internet.

 

[ShadowofNarcissus]

The Shadow doth protest too much, methinks.

You're welcome to your opinion. I just have opinions of my own and refuse to be a follower.

 

[J.Quondam]

I once made the mistake of reading the health info on a bag of those deliciousawful little chocolate donuts.
I think reading that did more damage than eating the donuts themselves.

 

[ShadowofNarcissus]

I logged a lot of miles on the keyboard this morning. And I downed a lot of donuts.

Little Chocolate Donuts. They taste good, and they’ve got the sugar I need to get me going in the morning.

That’s why Little Chocolate Donuts have been on my training table since I first started making comments on the internet.

Chocolate anything is amazing. I personally miss the old McDonald's milkshakes from the 80s and 90s. Didn't like the change. Somehow the new ones just lack the same wonder as the originals that caused your face to cave in like Gir from Invader Zim.

 

[CleverNickName]

You're welcome to your opinion. I just have opinions of my own and refuse to be a follower.

 

[Sacrosanct]

You'

Me what?

The majority of corporate types are clinically narcissistic/sociopathic. WOTC is no exception. It's just part of the job and how most corporations survive. Believing otherwise is more than a little bit of wishful thinking.

If WOTC had their consumers best interests in mind, they would never have created 4E without providing game support for their nonMillenial consumers. Instead, they attempted to create something that would lure in a new generation of gamers and gave the older generations that grew up with D&D the proverbial middle finger.

They had a good idea (create new stuff), but their implementation of it was hamfisted at best and outright cruel/disrespectful at worst. I love WOTC, but they made a gigantic mistake and all the love in the world for WOTC won't erase that mistake. D&D for many is a beloved hobby. In some cases, its a way to cope with reality.

People generally don't like it when you take a beloved hobby/game and turn it into something that barely resembles the original. It's like changing most of the ingredients in a batch of cookies and trying to say its the same kind of cookie. It just doesn't work. Is it a good cookie? Sure. For those who like it. ...but for those who don't...it's like pissing on their cookies.

As an older gamer myself, you are mistaken. A company doesn't owe us anything. Especially if the cost/benefit analysis doesn't justify it. What you're speaking of is simply entitlement. That's it. I'm not a fan of 4e, but it doesn't matter what I think. I kept playing my AD&D stuff all the way through 3e and 4e. No skin off my nose. I certainly didn't feel entitled that WoTC should continue to cater to me. That's nonsense.

Just like calling them an abuser. Of this drama going on, one side stole someone else's IP and when asked nicely to stop, insisted to sue the IP holder, then personally attack and insult anyone disagreeing with them, then lie about literally everything (gaslighting, which IS a trait of an abuser), and doxed and went after women and children.

So it sure seems which "side" is the abusive one here.