Gary Gygax and Don Kaye founded the company Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), which published the first version of Dungeons and Dragons in 1974. Gygax was inspired by Jack Vance to develop systems for spells and environment of their fantasy world inspired by medieval fantasy authors as Robert E. Howard, L. Sprague Camp and Fritz Leiber. The first edition of 1,000 copies sold in nine months. That same year contract to Tim Kaske Gygax to help make the magazine ‘The Strategic Review’ in a periodical associated to DandD ‘magazine’ The Dragon ‘, which would Gygax author and columnist later.
After the death of Don Kaye in 1976, his widow sold their rights to Gygax, happened to control the whole TSR, TSR Hobbies Inc. creating However, shortly after suffered financial problems and sold TSR Brian Blume and his brother Kevin , which control about two thirds of TSR since 1976.
Tactical Studies Rules published the first two editions of the original DandD and TSR Hobbies Inc continue later.
Early in 1977 appeared a new version of DandD, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (ADandD). and “Monster Manual”, which would be the first book of rules for a new system, which would supplement many of the rules’ ADandD ‘was not compatible with those of’ DandD ‘and as a result of different products both games and expansions.
Gary Gygax TSR abandoned in 1985 after several changes in the direction of TSR. This change occurred while Gary participated in the development of cartoon series Dungeons and Dragons. The cessation of Gygax came after several disagreements with management on the progress of the game and the company.