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.


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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.


 
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The myopia here is well and truly breathtaking.
First off, WotC doesn't give a rat's behind about them. If they really cared about potential competitors they would have nipped the OSR in the bud ages ago. Someone is overestimating the new TSR's importance. There are a ton of OSR companies out there who are making excellent products without inserting their feet into their mouths like this.
Also, guess what? I, too, was an ostracised nerd. And I reckon so were many here. But we got over it and it's not an excuse for bad behaviour.
 


I don't see how anyone at TSR3 could have possibly thought this was a good idea. This shows a profound lack of planning at the very least.

I know it's probably too late to matter, but if they somehow manage to survive this with any dignity intact, I hope they hire a publicist. A very good one, with a strong background in social media. (They won't, and they won't, but hope springs eternal.)
Really?
 


The myopia here is well and truly breathtaking.
First off, WotC doesn't give a rat's behind about them. If they really cared about potential competitors they would have nipped the OSR in the bud ages ago. Someone is overestimating the new TSR's importance. There are a ton of OSR companies out there who are making excellent products without inserting their feet into their mouths like this.
Also, guess what? I, too, was an ostracised nerd. And I reckon so were many here. But we got over it and it's not an excuse for bad behaviour.
It's not myopia. It's a marketing strategy. TSR3 are trying to pitch themselves as the plucky underdogs that have the name and are being picked on by WotC.
 

CleverNickName

Limit Break Dancing
Yes, really.

I really don't understand how anyone in this day and age, in which there have been so many examples of companies and celebrities completely destroying themselves over social media, could continue to be so careless and irresponsible with Twitter. You would have to be living under a rock to think that poor behavior online wouldn't bear immediate and severe consequences.

And yes, I really feel it is too late to matter. I really don't think they will survive this with any dignity intact. Case in point, --gestures broadly at everything in this thread--
 

Yes, really.

I really don't understand how anyone in this day and age, in which there have been so many examples of companies and celebrities completely destroying themselves over social media, could continue to be so careless and irresponsible with Twitter. You would have to be living under a rock to think that poor behavior online wouldn't bear immediate and severe consequences.

And yes, I really feel it is too late to matter. I really don't think they will survive this with any dignity intact. Case in point, --gestures broadly at everything in this thread--
Meh, me think some protest too much. If the games are good, we should all enjoy. But I agree that Twitter can be a toxic place to vent. It is funny though if you look at some celebs that is what made their career, like posting porn videos about themselves is acceptable but not having a different opinion.
 
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see

Pedantic Grognard
I wish WotC cared about people using "TSR"; then they'd have snapped up the trademark themselves, EGG Jr. wouldn't have it, and we wouldn't have to hear about another not-particularly-exciting TSR revial.

I mean, imagine a case where WotC snapped up the trademark, then set up a deal with DriveThru to open a "TSR Hobby Shop" storefront that carries both TSR legacy PDFs and "community content" targeting non-D&D TSR games.
 

I guess I don't get what the issue here is. There are people that say things all the time, and give them a pass. The real question I have is the new game any good? What was said exactly, is there a link?
Not sure how many ways or times this needs to be said but if you don’t even know what the discussion is about, and would rather start blindly posting instead of spending 60 seconds Googling for it (or reading the OP which has links aplenty) maybe…don’t comment?

More importantly though, no one, truly no one, cares if you don’t think this is a big deal. You weren’t asked, and you aren’t adding any new info or insights, and you said yourself you aren’t even familiar with what’s being discussed. A cursory search would also show that the game you’re wondering about doesn’t exist in any form that can be assessed. So…what are you doing, exactly?
 

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