TSR (Tactical Studies Rules) was an American game-publishing company first founded as Tactical Studies Rules in 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye to publish Dungeons & Dragons. When Kaye died in 1975, the company was restructured into TSR Hobbies, which became a gaming juggernaut led by its popular flagship title.
In 1983, TSR Hobbies ran into financial difficulties, causing the company to split into four independent businesses, with game publishing and development continuing as TSR, Inc. By 1995, TSR fell behind its competitors in sales, leaving it unable to cover its publishing costs. In 1997, TSR was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, who initially continued using the TSR name for their D&D products, but ultimately dropped the moniker in 2000 when they released the third edition of the gaming system.
In 2021, a new company using the TSR name was co-founded by Ernie Gigax, son of Gary Gygax (it should be noted that this is one of two companies named TSR Hobbies to honor Gary Gygax, with the other TSR being founded by Jayson Elliot) — alongside some Tabletop games veteran designers with the tabletop game Giantlands. This was meant to be their first product, until some statements by Ernie that were perceived as anti-progressive and transphobic by many people, which led to a huge backlash that caused the people behind Giantlands to cut ties with Ernie's TSR Games. TSR has stated that they will still look for products to publish.
Titles published by TSR:
Role-Playing Games- The Adventures Of Indiana Jones Role Playing Game (1984)
- Alternity (1998)
- Amazing Engine (1993)
- Boot Hill (1975)
- Buck Rogers Adventure Game (1993)
- Buck Rogers XXVC (1988)
- Conan Role Playing Game (1985)
- Crimefighters (1981)
- Dragonlance: Fifth Age Dramatic Adventure Game (Saga System) (1996)
- Dragon Quest 3rd edition (1989) - Published after acquiring Simulations Publications Inc
- Dragonstrike (board game and VHS tutorial) (1993)
- Dungeons & Dragons (1974)
- Empire of the Petal Throne (1975)
- Gamma World (1978)
- Gangbusters (1982)
- Marvel Super Heroes (1984)
- Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game (Saga System) (1998)
- Masque of the Red Death (1994)
- Metamorphosis Alpha (1976)
- Spelljammer (1989)
- Star Frontiers (1982)
- Top Secret (1980) and Top Secret SI (1987)
Wargames
- A Gleam Of Bayonets (on the Battle of Antietam)
- A Line In The Sand (on the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Campaigns 1990-91)
- Battle Of Britain (on the Battle of Britain 1940-41)
- Battlesystem (1985)
- Cavaliers And Roundheads (1973)
- Chainmail (1975)
- Classic Warfare (1975)
- Cordite And Steel (1977)
- Divine Right (1979)
- Dont Give Up The Ship (1975)
- Fight In The Skies (1975) (later renamed Dawn Patrol)
- Gammarauders
- The Hunt For Red October (1988)
- Little Big Horn (1976)
- Panzer Warfare (1975)
- Red Storm Rising (1989)
- Sniper Second Edition (1986)
- Star Probe (1975)
- Tractics (1975)
- Tricolor (1975)
- Warriors Of Mars (1974)
- Wellingtons Victory
- William The Conqueror (1976)
Other Games
- All My Children (board game)
- Attack Force (microgame)
- The Awful Green Things From Outer Space (board game, 1979)
- Blood Wars (collectible card game, 1995)
- Buck Rogers Battle For The25th Century (board game, 1988)
- Chase (board game)
- Crosse (board game)
- Dragonlance (board game)
- Dragon Strike (board game, 1993)
- Dragon Dice (collectible dice game)
- Dungeon (1975)
- Dungeon Fantasy (1989)
- Elixir (board game)
- Escape From New York (1981) (board game)
- Fantasy Forest (1980) (board game)
- Fourth Dimension (board game)
- The Great Khan Game (card game)
- Honeymooners Game (board game, 1986)
- Icebergs (microgame)
- Kage (board game)
- Knights Of Camelot (board game)
- Maxi Bourse (board game)
- Party Zone Spy Ring Scenario (party game)
- Perry Mason (board game, 1987)
- Remember The Alamo (microgame)
- Revolt On Antares (microgame, 1980)
- Saga (microgame)
- Spellfire (collectible card game, 1994)
- Snits Revenge (boardgame) (1977)
- Steppe (board game)
- Theyve Invaded Pleasantville (microgame)
- Vampyre (microgame)
- Viking Gods
- War Of Wizards
Magazines
- Amazing Stories
- Dragon
- Dungeon
- Imagine (AD&D magazine)
Comic Books
- Thirteen Assassin
- Birthright The Serpents Eye
- Buck Rogers Comic Module
- Dragonlance Fifth Age
- Dragonlance Saga
- Fineous Fingers Collection
- Forgotten Realms
- Intruder Comics Module
- Labyrinth Of Madness
- RIP Comics Module
- SnarfQuest Collection
- Spelljammer
- Warhawks Comics Module
Game Books
- Endless Quest (1982)
- Heart Quest
- Snarf Quest (game book series) (1983)
Novels
Video Games
Tropes relating to TSR
- Bad Boss: A lot of the higher management at TSR had issues with those underneath them. Gary Gygax, having equated TSR's success with providing for his family became extremely defensive when others in the company deviated from what he expected, and was particularly petty towards Dave Arneson despite creating a game changing product together. The Blooms were highly self enriching to their entire extended family, and almost were caught changing records to cover their tracks, which lead to several long time partners quitting in disgust. And as for Loraine Williams, while she was in part brought in to bring stability after a downturn in the 80's, her micromanagement and reckless greenlighting of new products eventually lead to the downfall of TSR as an independent company. At one point she was against playtesting products in the office because she believed it to be goofing off on clock.
- Head-in-the-Sand Management: TSR was started not by Business people but gamers. In part because they didn't want business people ruining the products. But this would also turn against them when they assumed that business would grow forever after D&D got big, when down periods were inevitable.
- Nepotism: As part of their explosive growth in the 1980's, they ended up needing to hire as many people as possible. And so often, the people who got hired were members of The Bloom Family who had 2 people in upper management.
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No Such Thing as Bad Publicity: TSR first got national prominence thanks to their association with a missing teen genius case, and a misunderstanding of the intent of D&D. While this created a negative connotation with conservatives regarding not only spellcasting but "mistaking the game for reality", it did bring them to national attention. Thus exploding sales and allowing a blockbuster deal with a national publisher. - Rags to Riches: From a business existing on paper and a tiny shop in a basement to one of the largest hobby game companies in the US.
- Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: After their initial troubles with Dave Arneson, TSR became reluctant to hand out stock options as it would possibly bring in people who would work against the company. Of course, promising then rescinding a stock offer is a perfect way to then turn people against you.
