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mordrin
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 11:29 am 
 

Over on DF, there's discussion of an amazing bit of TSR lore I've never heard of - the Lifetime Subscription.

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 11&t=39807


Anybody here one of the ~20?   :)

Anybody got anything related to this - the ad, the offer adendum, a receipt/voucher?

Or anything to add to the discussion?
  

jkason
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 2:48 pm 
 

No, I'm not one of the ~20.

But I did see the ad (as a pull-out - like a subscription card) in a Dragon Magazine back in '83 (or thereabouts).

Couldn't convince my parents to pony up the cash (I was in junior high/middle school and it was tough to pay the mortgage, never mind extras).


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sauromatian
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:08 pm 
 

mordrin wrote:Over on DF, there's discussion of an amazing bit of TSR lore I've never heard of - the Lifetime Subscription.


It is said that in days of yore, certain magic-users, of an evil disposition, sought to extend their mortal span by foul necromantic means, to linger on century after century as the Liche Lords. Twenty was their number, each bearing a Lifetime Subscription card of power. Why did they barter their souls away? Was it to fight mind flayers? To slowly count their vast treasure hoards & comic-book collections? Nay, for now the truth may be told. Each year after year, they shambled back to TSR to take their unholy bounty, as the company's accountants slowly realized they had made a deal with dark forces beyond controlling. And that's the true story of where the "liche" comes from. % In Liar: 100
  

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FormCritic
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Post Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2011 7:04 pm 
 

Only 20 people?  If I had been running WOTC I would have invited them all in for a group picture and made a big deal about honoring TSR's legacy.

20 copies of each product?  Fine.


"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."
  

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clangador
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 12:54 am 
 

FormCritic wrote:Only 20 people?  If I had been running WOTC I would have invited them all in for a group picture and made a big deal about honoring TSR's legacy.

20 copies of each product?  Fine.


WotC honor TSR's memory? Perhaps you are thinking of a different WotC that I am familiar with.


~Clangador
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Black Blade Publishing imprint of OSRIC is not only the most definitive printing of OSRIC to date, but also the single greatest resource for old school gamers since the three original hardbacks written by E. Gary Gygax.
  

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SimperingToad
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 1:37 am 
 

Never underestimate the power of PR stunts. Except in WotC's case, where all attempts at evoking nostalgia for the sake of new product seem to fail miserably.
  

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Blackmoor
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 3:42 am 
 

Our local store here was one of the chosen  :)   He told me a story about it, they got quite behind on him they and ended up sending him a pallet's worth of material at one time 8O

This guy has been around since 1969 or so (he bought his woodgrain boxset off the shelf of his own store) so I do believe him.


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clangador
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:15 am 
 

Blackmoor wrote:Our local store here was one of the chosen  :)   He told me a story about it, they got quite behind on him they and ended up sending him a pallet's worth of material at one time 8O

This guy has been around since 1969 or so (he bought his woodgrain boxset off the shelf of his own store) so I do believe him.


That guy must be ancient.


~Clangador
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Black Blade Publishing imprint of OSRIC is not only the most definitive printing of OSRIC to date, but also the single greatest resource for old school gamers since the three original hardbacks written by E. Gary Gygax.
  

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clangador
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 5:23 am 
 

SimperingToad wrote:Never underestimate the power of PR stunts. Except in WotC's case, where all attempts at evoking nostalgia for the sake of new product seem to fail miserably.


I use to game with some of the WotC guys. They didn't like TSR. This included Peter A.


~Clangador
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Black Blade Publishing imprint of OSRIC is not only the most definitive printing of OSRIC to date, but also the single greatest resource for old school gamers since the three original hardbacks written by E. Gary Gygax.
  

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FormCritic
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Post Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2011 6:12 pm 
 

clangador wrote:
WotC honor TSR's memory? Perhaps you are thinking of a different WotC that I am familiar with.


Yes, I'm thinking of a WOTC run by me...the way I would have done it.

I can see having a bit of a superiority complex after building my own game company so large I could take control and swallow TSR...yes, I can see how that would stoke my ego.

I'm talking wise PR and good business practices.

A couple of years ago, the school where my wife was teaching was accused by a Seattle newspaper of cheating on the state testing....because their scores were so good.

The principle and staff were hunkering down to weather media attention for doing so well.

I suggested that they paint a 4'x8' sign that said: WE DID SO WELL ON THE STATE TESTING THAT THE SEATTLE P.I. ACCUSED OF OF CHEATING!  WOO HOOO!

They didn't take my advice...but that would have been cool.


"But I have watched the dragons come, fire-eyed, across the world."
  

Favonius Cornelius
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Post Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:49 pm 
 

Can we get a picture of the offer anyone? :)


In search of the unknown...
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