Why do we think this website/idea is a scam? Well 1st off, thank you for (not) asking for our opinion on the subject.*
The biggest reason we think that the Legends of TSR is a scam is because there is no value added to the process of getting a former TSR employee to attend a convention as a Special Guest. Pretty much anyone who would be willing to attend a convention is a Special Guest roll is pretty damn easy to get in touch with. Social media is a thing. Business emails are also a thing. If you are running a convention and you would like a certain Special Guest that has attended another convention, then you could literally ask that convention's con runner to make an introduction and/or get contact info. Those hard-to-get Special Guest types? Yeah, they're hard to get for pretty much one of two reasons: they don't want to go to conventions, or your convention dates aren't conducive to their schedule.
In short, if you want somebody as a Special Guest, it's an easy ask if they are available.
Additionally, for the most part Special Guests generally don't have a lot of associated expenses. Most want their travel covered, and their badge. Now I'm counting "travel" to include transportation, meals, and lodging. Basically the average Special Guest doesn't want to have to pay out of pocket to support your event. Pretty much common sense. If you want to provide WAM (walking-around-money) I'm sure they wouldn't complain, but I've really only heard of one Special Guest demanding that and I don't think anyone really wants her around anyway....
Now on to the information sent to us today:
 |
| Click to embiggen |
"Hello my name is Ken Whitman, and you can look me up in the IMDB database
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4452606/?ref_=fn_t_1
I used to work for TSR Hobbies back in the day, and boy can I tell you stories! I can go ahead and guarantee you a mirad of special OSR guests for your convention. The minimum fee is between $500 and $5000 dollars, depending on your fee, and how it works is this.
I will work up the contract and have that sent to you of the guest of your choice I can get you people like Kask, Elmore, Darlene and other BIG names.
I have a standard $100.00 fee that what you will do is pay me the $100.00 fee, and also their appearance fee, which is between $500.00 and $5,000.00 on average it is only $2,500.00
Also I can go ahead and arrange to have you provide plane tickets, and also a per diem which you pay me, and I will go ahead and arrange the guest.
The only thing that happens here is that you also have to sign an NDA as my special guest contract do not want their names put out, unless it is by special means.
So the way we work this is this. I will come up with an estimate for you, please select your special guest you want to have, I will present you with a contract.
I accept payment PayPal Friends and Family, VENMO and Direct Bank Wire transfer.
Sincerely
Ken (Whit) Whitman
Director"
Ok a few things to unpack here and we'll start from the top:
1) What does the IMDB database have with anything related to Kenny's "value proposition" here? There is one blurb in the trivia section which we have to guess was actually written by Ken because of the misspelling (our emphasis), which is kind of a signature trait for him: "He worked for TSR, Inc. (makes of Dungeons & Dragons) as Convention Coordinator. He ran the Gen Con Game Fair 1994 & 1995." As a couple of side notes, if he "designed and developed over 50 paper based games" why does he list two card games? Also, not going to lie, low-key glad he never acted on on his "planed to be a high school art teacher"
2) "TSR Hobbies" did not exist in 1994. TSR Hobbies Inc. was incorporated on 1975.07.14, according to the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and had a name change to TSR Inc. on 1983.07.21. This change is also referenced by one Ciro Alessandro Sacco's interview with Gary Gygax in OD&DITIES's Issue 9 (February 2003) and also available on Wikipedia (but it uses the same reference). A full decade after the name change you'd expect an employee to ...I don't know, actually remember the name of the company that would literally be written on the top of their paychecks!
3) The word is myriad. Spell check is a thing Kenny!
4) Tim Kask died on 2025.12.30, and news of his passing was shared quite widely. Not sure if I trust the connections of a person/company who doesn't know this and advertises they can provide access to a dead person two-and-a-half weeks (17 days) later. This is troubling on several levels.
5) Do you really think Larry Elmore is going to let you serve as an intermediary after fiascos like the KoDT:LAS movie poster and the Pencil Dice signed pencil bags?
MOVIE POSTER PACKAGE -- You will receive the KODT BLOOPERS & EXTRAS PACKAGE, the WEB SCREENING PACKAGE, and a print of the KODT 24"x36" movie poster painted by Larry Elmore. Backers of this level and higher will also be acknowledged in a special "Thank You" section in the movie credits.
Limited Edition Elmore Leather Pencil Bag, Signed in gold paint by Larry Elmore himself. Limited to 50!!! Will hold up to 12 Pencil Dice, and smells like leather... because it's leather. $40 each. If you are interested in purchasing the Limited Edition Elmore Leather Pencil Bag, simply increase your pledge by $40 per bag. The send us a message you purchased one so we can add your name to the list below. Once all 50 are gone... we're done here!
(Editor note: I actually spoke to Mr. Elmore years ago about Kenny promising his participation in these endeavors and was told he hadn't been consulted by Ken about these rewards. This was not an interview, so just go ahead and assume I'm lying......I won't mind!)
6) Kenny doesn't have a good history of fulfilling contracts with regards of his past ventures from a decade ago (seriously, just peruse NAD), and presumably is being sued over a more recent contract, so why would a future contract from him hold any value?
7) Paraphrasing: "Pay me my fee, their fee, provide plane tickets, pay me more....and then I'll do something" This blog has thousands (over 3,600 from Kickstarter alone) of examples of Kenny not producing after being paid.
8) Payment methods that have absolutely no recourse for recompense (PayPal) after being defrauded, and is it our presumption there will be fraud.
*We know there is opinion stated here, you (probably) know that there are opinions stated here, but we question whether Ken "Whit" Whitman may have issue knowing this and we got someone else's letter yesterday, so we don't need/want one of our own.
Did Kenny send you his AI-Written Fill in the Date Form Letter to demand you cease and desist and say "Uncle!"
ReplyDelete