TSR

TSR, Inc. was an American game publishing company, best known as the original publisher of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Its earliest incarnation, Tactical Studies Rules, was founded in October 1973 by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye.


Frequently Asked Questions

TSR stands for Tactical Studies Rules, the original publisher of Dungeons & Dragons. It was founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye in Lake Geneva, WI, 1973.
Dungeons & Dragons was developed by combining traditional miniature wargaming with fantasy elements, evolving from a game called Chainmail and Dave Arneson's 'Blackmoor' campaign. In 1972, Arneson brought his 'Blackmoor' campaign to Gygax, who was amazed by the game and helped turn the 18 pages of handwritten notes into a full ruleset.
In addition to the iconic Dungeons & Dragons, TSR released numerous role-playing and board games, most notably Boot Hill (Western), Gamma World (post-apocalyptic), Star Frontiers (sci-fi), Top Secret (espionage), Marvel Super Heroes, and the board game Dungeon!. Their portfolio covered various genres, including licensed properties like Indiana Jones, Conan, and Buck Rogers.