Don Kaye
Encyclopedia
Donald R. Kaye co-founder of TSR, Inc.
, was the childhood friend of Gary Gygax
, and shared an interest in war games and tabletop miniatures with him during their youth. When Gygax was co-developing the game that would become known as Dungeons & Dragons
(D&D) in 1972, Kaye played in the second-ever session; his character Murlynd
was one of the first D&D characters created as well as one of the earliest explorers of the dungeons under Gygax's Castle Greyhawk
. Kaye and Gygax became convinced that D&D and similar games were an excellent business opportunity, and together they founded TSR, Inc.
in 1973. However, only two years later, just as sales of D&D started to increase exponentially, Kaye unexpectedly died of a heart attack at age 36. With no provision made for a partner's death, the stage was set for Gygax to lose control of TSR and ultimately be forced out of the company a decade later.
in 1953. Gygax and Kaye would design their own miniatures rules for toy soldiers, with a large collection of 54mm and 70mm figures, and would use "ladyfingers" (small firecrackers) to simulate explosions. Kaye, Gygax, Mike Reese, and Leon Tucker created a military miniatures society, Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association
(LGTSA) in 1965, with its first headquarters in Gygax's basement.
and Dave Megarry visited Gary Gygax and ran a session of Blackmoor
, a new type of game they were developing, a game that eventually would become Dungeons & Dragons. Gygax immediately began his own campaign and Gygax's children, Ernie and Elise, were the first players in the dungeons of Gygax's Castle Greyhawk
, but the next evening, Kaye and Gygax's friends Rob
and Terry Kuntz
joined Ernie and Elise for the second session. Kaye created the character Murlynd
, Rob Kuntz created Robilar
and Terry created Terik
.
Sensing that this new "role-playing" game would be popular, Kaye and Gygax each invested $1000 to found the publishing company Tactical Studies Rules
(later known as TSR, Inc.). Kaye borrowed $1,000 on a life insurance policy to provide his share.
In 1974, Gygax and Kaye were ready to publish Dungeons & Dragons, but they didn't have the cash necessary to pay for the printing. They had originally planned to wait and use the revenue generated by Cavaliers and Roundheads
to finance the publication of Dungeons & Dragons. However, they heard that other companies were working on similar projects, and abandoned their plan in favor of getting D&D to the market first. They convinced a gaming acquaintance, Brian Blume
to invest in TSR as an equal one-third partner, gaining the necessary financing to publish D&D. Blume's investment allowed them to print 1000 copies of the game in January 1974, which were then hand-assembled in the basement of Gygax's house.
Melvin subsequently sold his shares to Brian's brother, Kevin, giving the Blume brothers a majority stake in the company and sowing the seeds of Gygax's removal from TSR ten years later.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, was the childhood friend of Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
, and shared an interest in war games and tabletop miniatures with him during their youth. When Gygax was co-developing the game that would become known as Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
(D&D) in 1972, Kaye played in the second-ever session; his character Murlynd
Murlynd
In the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Murlynd is a minor deity. He began as a player character created by Gary Gygax's closest friend Don Kaye in 1972 for the second-ever session of the game that would become D&D...
was one of the first D&D characters created as well as one of the earliest explorers of the dungeons under Gygax's Castle Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
. Kaye and Gygax became convinced that D&D and similar games were an excellent business opportunity, and together they founded TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
in 1973. However, only two years later, just as sales of D&D started to increase exponentially, Kaye unexpectedly died of a heart attack at age 36. With no provision made for a partner's death, the stage was set for Gygax to lose control of TSR and ultimately be forced out of the company a decade later.
Early life and early gaming
Don Kaye was born on June 27, 1938. When he was 8, he became friends with Gary Gygax when Gygax moved to Lake Geneva from Chicago in 1946. They began playing miniature war gamesMiniature wargaming
Miniature wargaming is a form of wargaming that incorporates miniature figures, miniature armor and modeled terrain as the main components of play...
in 1953. Gygax and Kaye would design their own miniatures rules for toy soldiers, with a large collection of 54mm and 70mm figures, and would use "ladyfingers" (small firecrackers) to simulate explosions. Kaye, Gygax, Mike Reese, and Leon Tucker created a military miniatures society, Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association
Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association
The Lake Geneva Tactical Studies Association was a prominent wargaming club active in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin during the 1960s and 1970s. Its membership included Gary Gygax, Terry and Rob Kuntz, Jeff Perren, Mike Reese, Leon Tucker, and Don Kaye. The organization usually met weekly in Gygax's...
(LGTSA) in 1965, with its first headquarters in Gygax's basement.
Formation of TSR
In late 1972, Dave ArnesonDave Arneson
David Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
and Dave Megarry visited Gary Gygax and ran a session of Blackmoor
Blackmoor
Blackmoor is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting generally associated with the game Dungeons & Dragons. It originally evolved in the early 1970s as the personal setting of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, first as a setting for Arneson's miniature wargames, then as an...
, a new type of game they were developing, a game that eventually would become Dungeons & Dragons. Gygax immediately began his own campaign and Gygax's children, Ernie and Elise, were the first players in the dungeons of Gygax's Castle Greyhawk
Greyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
, but the next evening, Kaye and Gygax's friends Rob
Robert J. Kuntz
Robert J. Kuntz is a game designer and author of role-playing game publications. He is most famous for his contributions to various Dungeons & Dragons-related materials.-Works:...
and Terry Kuntz
Terry Kuntz
Terry Kuntz is a game designer who was an early associate of Gary Gygax and employee of TSR.-Biography:...
joined Ernie and Elise for the second session. Kaye created the character Murlynd
Murlynd
In the fictional World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Murlynd is a minor deity. He began as a player character created by Gary Gygax's closest friend Don Kaye in 1972 for the second-ever session of the game that would become D&D...
, Rob Kuntz created Robilar
Robilar
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Robilar is a powerful warrior who serves as commander of Rary's forces in the Empire of the Bright Lands...
and Terry created Terik
Terik
The Terik people are a Kalenjin group inhabiting parts of the Kakamega and Nandi Districts of western Kenya, numbering about 120,000 people. They live wedged in between the Nandi, Luo and Luhya peoples. Among the Luo they are known as nyangóóri, but to the Terik, this is a derogatory term...
.
Sensing that this new "role-playing" game would be popular, Kaye and Gygax each invested $1000 to found the publishing company Tactical Studies Rules
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
(later known as TSR, Inc.). Kaye borrowed $1,000 on a life insurance policy to provide his share.
In 1974, Gygax and Kaye were ready to publish Dungeons & Dragons, but they didn't have the cash necessary to pay for the printing. They had originally planned to wait and use the revenue generated by Cavaliers and Roundheads
Cavaliers and Roundheads (game)
Cavaliers and Roundheads is a set of rules for English Civil War miniature wargaming. It was written by Gary Gygax and Jeff Perren and published by Tactical Studies Rules in 1973. The unassuming booklet was the first product released by the company better known for Dungeons and Dragons...
to finance the publication of Dungeons & Dragons. However, they heard that other companies were working on similar projects, and abandoned their plan in favor of getting D&D to the market first. They convinced a gaming acquaintance, Brian Blume
Brian Blume
Brian J. Blume is noted for being a business partner of Gary Gygax in TSR, Inc., producers of the fantasy role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons.-Biography:...
to invest in TSR as an equal one-third partner, gaining the necessary financing to publish D&D. Blume's investment allowed them to print 1000 copies of the game in January 1974, which were then hand-assembled in the basement of Gygax's house.
Sudden death
Sales of D&D quickly accelerated due to word of mouth, and TSR geared up for more print runs and expansion rules. However, a year after the first print run of D&D, just as TSR was starting its rapid climb to the top of the gaming world, Kaye suddenly died of a heart attack on January 31, 1975. He had not made any special provision in his will for his shares of TSR to be passed on to his partners, so they went to his widow instead. She had not been supportive of Kaye's involvement in TSR, and was not interested in being Gygax's partner, but Gygax did not have the cash to buy her out. Melvin Blume, Brian's father, stepped forward and bought her shares.Melvin subsequently sold his shares to Brian's brother, Kevin, giving the Blume brothers a majority stake in the company and sowing the seeds of Gygax's removal from TSR ten years later.