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 Justin LaNasa, Stephen Dinehart, and Ernie Gygax. The controversy has been raging for over a week, since TSR3 announced itself with a press release.

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

Stephen Dinehart and Ernie Gygax have since deactivated their Twitter accounts; Justin LaNasa doesn't appear to have one, but it is believed he is the person operating TSR3's Twitter account. A couple of days ago, Ernie Gygax posted about recent events on Facebook (note that he edited the post, but the original can be seen here).

I wish to state in the strongest terms that I never meant to hurt anyone of any race, creed or color. My video From the Bunker caused some to feel that they would not be welcome or would be looked down upon. That was never the intent, I was reacting to focus of modern role play into a more background and Role Play rather than the wargame that so made so many lives happy over 40 years ago.

As a gamer it meant that most of us were not worthy of any attention from others of our own age. We were Nerds. We were brainy-acks and others would snicker. Older classmen would ask to "borrow" something of ours to then pass back and forth a game of keep away. I used to receive some special attention from about 4 Juniors in my Freshman year. I played the Violin and often I began to wish that I had Super Powers, perhaps become a Giant.. I was far to shy and then embarrassed as attractive ladies would just lower the eyes while the jocks or other socially vibrant fellows had some fun at another geeky nerds expense. Thank goodness I grew 4 inches my junior year.

The only real comfort zone we all could share was a table in the lunch room. At least the fledgling TSR found fertile minds in those who had only those like us - gamers. Rather than have to risk embarrassing myself, since Phy Ed was going to force us to dance with those wonderful and yet scary girls. Well to get my Diploma I had to slave for a month to Mr. Gerber the head of the Phy Ed department. Fortunately I knew all about janitorial work as before D&D and TSR dad only made $5,000 as a Cobbler (five children) and we had food stamps and even free school lunches. Yes you had to go to the councilors office every week to collect your free lunch passes. Obviously you could feel all the eyes on you and the talk about....

Everyone has been welcome at my gaming table and multitudes of new friends have been created by the time spent playing the games we Love. Look at pictures of gaming on my site or anywhere I run games. Everyone is welcome, just like a Boot Hill game leave your guns at the bar until you leave town. If you come to the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum Jeff R. Leason will show you courtesy and a smile and you will see that gaming with elder gamers is a safe and entertaining environment.

TSR - Ernie Gygax on New TSR, WotC Beefs, Trademarks, Licensees, 5E, & More

A YouTube channel, 'Live From the Bunker', interviewed Ernie Gygax about the new TSR. I've watched and decided to try to transcribe the most relevant parts of it, but the full hour-long video is below if you want to see the whole interview and full context. Ernie Gygax is one of D&D...

www.enworld.org

 

[Bolares]

Two wrongs? That speaks volumes. Calling someone a bigot for saying bigoted things isn't a wrong. There are no two wrongs here. There are not "same level as the bigots". Unless you can start showing a bucketload of tweets from people directed at these guys wishing for their death for being white men, your false equivalency is false.

The lack of proof of this abuse Ernie is suffering speaks volumes to me...

 

[This Effin’ GM]

They could have made them private then
Engaged with people you choose

RIGHT THERE.
Engage with the people you choose. Ernie has the ability to choose and chose to engage with everyone at once. He has blocks. He has silent notification options. He has all of the same abilities everyone else has. And again, he chose for too long to keep engaging with the ttrpg community as a whole from his personal account to promote his business.

 

[Thaumaturge]

I'd guess that's very true. One of the trans women I know simply opted out of all social media except the occasional Twitter, and most online interaction of any kind. And she's a pretty happy and fulfilled person, I think in part from taking that option. As a cis man, I find online interaction sometimes bad for my mental health. I can't imagine how hard it must be to be a trans person in the midst of the mess that is social media and the level of bigotry one can run into online.

It has been a few years since I’ve posted here, and I don’t expect anyone to remember me. But Ernie’s comments really shook me, in part because I was excited and hopeful about the TSR thing, and in part because I’ve recently realized I’m non-binary. His comments caused me to question, just for a second, whether the greater D&D community that I’ve been a part of since I was ten, or this one that I’ve been a part of since the Eric Noah days, were ones I still belong in.

It has been really wonderful seeing how safe and accepting EnWorld has been during all of this. The mods have done a great job, but it hasn’t just been the mods. I’ve been so happy with how supportive a lot of the community has been. I’m quoting Mistwell here, just as an example.


Thank you all.
Thaumaturge.

Edit: grammar

 

[Neonchameleon]

Until they make it personal and attack him
Then they're the same. They're both haters

Nope. They're attacking him not for the way he was born but for the content of his character.

By your logic someone attacking Adolf Hitler is just as bad as Adolf Hitler himself. They're both haters.

You could opt out and stop consenting to the dialogue. Leave the discussion

You can't on Twitter. And people there never stop

You can always leave Twitter. Frankly a lot of people should.

 

[Sacrosanct]

So, your argument is... religion?

IME, the ones who say to turn the other cheek are often the ones doing the slapping.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

The lack of proof of this abuse Ernie is suffering speaks volumes to me...

I think it's because no one wants to spend three hours trawling through a week's worth of toxic Twitter posts and a thousand tweets just to win an internet discussion only to have you move the goal post and declare the tweet isn't "mean enough" or isn't a "death threat"

I left Twitter years ago because I got tired of it's toxicity and negativity
I'm not spending my day off subjecting myself to that to prove anything to you

 

[J.Quondam]

Then why keep the TSR account open and active?

It appears to be run mainly by LaNasa, not Ernie.

Spoiler: twitter link

Keep in mind that LaNasa is a businessman (and politician), as well as an enabler of Ernie's. I imagine he's in damage-control mode, and/or figuring out how to turn this thing to his advantage.
Opportunists will be opportunists.

 

[Disgruntled Hobbit]

Nope. They're attacking him not for the way he was born but for the content of his character.

By your logic someone attacking Adolf Hitler is just as bad as Adolf Hitler himself. They're both haters.

You can always leave Twitter. Frankly a lot of people should.

And we have a Goodwin!
That's the sign to peace out

 

[This Effin’ GM]

And we have a Goodwin!
That's the sign to peace out

Have a good one

 

[darjr]

@Thaumaturge welcome back!