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

 

[Mind of tempest]

D&D is not genderless. If there is a choice to play a gender, then D&D is perfectly suited to explore those issues. Now the assumptions of gender in OD&D/1e D&D are another kettle of fish. But, D&D is not encased in amber. The game has shifted its assumptions over time.

I will let in on a little secret. When I started playing D&D back in 1979 every table I played at tinkered with the rules and assumptions of the game to make it our own (despite Gary Gygax's bombastic claim in Dragon Magazine that only stuff published by TSR(1) was the only way to play the game properly). Every table was mess of house rules and gaming customs. Believe me when I say Gary would not have recognized his narrow view of D&D/RPGs at the tables I played at.

Everyone brings an identity to the table in D&D and at my table all are welcome. Everyone is welcome to explore that in the characters they want to play be it a rip off of some pop-culture character from TV/Movies, be just themselves, an aspect of themselves, something they want to try out, or even just roll some dice with very little personality at all.

My main mantra is, "More Places To Play, More People To Play With." The idea that someone should not be able to play D&D with me because of their gender or sexual identity is alien to me.

identity is a theme I can't grasp can you explain?

 

[Marc_C]

D&D is not genderless.

Yep, long before Laura Croft, my first AD&D character in 1982 was called White Maiden, a female Paladin with an 18-79% Strength score no less. (f@$ck the max 50% rule).

 

[Eubani]

Well now we have a good example for the roll of a 1 when non proficient with the Deception skill and Charisma as a dump stat.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yep, long before Laura Croft, my first AD&D character in 1982 was called White Maiden, a female Paladin with an 18-79% Strength score no less. (f@$ck the max 50% rule).

Didn't make any sense even from a simulation pov. 18/00 was achievable in 1977 by RL females.

I've never run 1E. I want to run it RAW for 1 session or short campaign but that would be ditched very quickly.
Would probably use 2E and plug in 1E bits.

 

[Cadence]

Didn't make any sense even from a simulation pov. 18/00 was achievable in 1977 by RL females.

In which case I'm guessing there were RL males with even higher back then? In any case, the differences would matter if they were going for a simulationist game about the high level real world athletics (using m/f definitions and restrictions from years past - which seems like a not exciting rpg), but in retrospect seem like an odd thing to need to include in a world of magic and monsters.

 

[Umbran]

Gay people play D&D as if it was Thirsty Sword Lesbians.

Gay people play D&D... any darned way they like. Some of them may be like Thirsty Sword Lesbians, others may be like Killy McHacknslash. There's no real need to lay a single playstyle on an entire group.

 

[RFB Dan]

Didn't make any sense even from a simulation pov. 18/00 was achievable in 1977 by RL females.

I've never run 1E. I want to run it RAW for 1 session or short campaign but that would be ditched very quickly.
Would probably use 2E and plug in 1E bits.

I still love 2e and will run it RAW for one shots. But for a campaign, I give the racial class/level limits the boot and have oversight on which splatbooks we use. But the players always have a lot of fun.

 

[Zardnaar]

In which case I'm guessing there were RL males with even higher back then? In any case, the differences would matter if they were going for a simulationist game about the high level real world athletics (using m/f definitions and restrictions from years past - which seems like a not exciting rpg), but in retrospect seem like an odd thing to need to include in a world of magic and monsters.

Yeah theales might hit 19 or 20 strength if they're an olmpic class weightlifter or whatever.

1E was the only edition to do it and D&D isn't simulationist so stupid idea on multiple levels.

I prefer B/X and 2E mechanically for multiple reasons.

 

[Yaarel]

It's along the same lines as why Straight Pride isn't really an appropriate, positive thing. There's no adversity overcome to be proud of by being straight.

I consider Valentines Day to be Straight Pride celebrations, and Weddings to be Straight Pride Parades.

Plus, when almost every prom is straight, love song is straight, romance movie is straight, and so on. It is pretty much Straight Pride all year round.

 

[Zardnaar]

Gay people play D&D... any darned way they like. Some of them may be like Thirsty Sword Lesbians, others may be like Killy McHacknslash. There's no real need to lay a single playstyle on an entire group.

No real difference I've experienced except I haven't encountered any with really bad hygiene issues.

Everyone's an individual imho.