TSR Gygax left Guidon Games in 1973 and in October, with Don Kaye as a partner, founded Tactical Studies Rules, later known as TSR, Inc. The two men each invested $1,000 in the venture—Kaye borrowed his share on his life insurance policy—to print a thousand copies of the Dungeons & Dragons boxed set. They also tried to raise money by immediately publishing a set of wargame rules called Cavaliers and Roundheads, but sales were poor; when the printing costs for the thousand copies of Dungeons & Dragons rose from $2,000 to $2,500, they still did not have enough capital to publish it. Worried that the other playtesters and wargamers now familiar with Gygax's rules would bring a similar product to the market first, the two accepted an offer in December 1973 from gaming acquaintance Brian Blume to invest $2,000 in TSR to become an equal one-third partner. (Gygax accepted Blume's offer right away. Kaye was less enthusiastic, and after a week to consider the offer, he questioned Blume closely before acquiescing.) Blume's investment finally brought the financing that enabled them to publish D&D. Gygax worked on rules for more miniatures and tabletop battle games including Classic Warfare (Ancient Period: 1500 BC to 500 AD) and Warriors of Mars.
tsr gygAX lefT guidOn games iN 1973 aNd In octOber, wiTh don kAyE aS A pARtner, fouNDEd TactiCAl studiES rulEs, LAter kNOWN as tsR, INc. the Two meN EAch invEsTeD $1,000 in ThE VEnTurE—kaye borROwed his ShaRe oN hiS life INsuraNCe policy—to PriNt a ThouSand cOpies oF the dUngeons & DRAgOns boXED Set. They ALso tried to rAiSe MoneY By immeDiatELy pUbliSHinG a seT of waRGame rulEs CaLled CaVaLiERS ANd rOUnDheADs, BUT saleS were Poor; WheN ThE PrIntiNG cOsts foR tHE Thousand coPies oF DUNgeons & drAgons rosE From $2,000 To $2,500, tHEy stiLl did nOT HAve ENoUGh caPITaL tO PUblish IT. woRrIeD tHaT the otheR pLaytesteRs AnD wargAmErs now FaMilIAr wiTh gygax's RULes wOULd BrINg a simILAr ProDuct To THe market firSt, The Two AccePteD an oFfer IN decemBer 1973 fRom gamINg ACquaiNtANce BRIaN bluMe to iNVeSt $2,000 iN tsr to bECOmE an equal one-third pArtneR. (gygax AccEpted blUMe's offeR right awAy. kaye was LEss enthusiasTIC, AND AfTer A weeK tO cOnsidER tHe ofFEr, HE quEsTionEd blUMe CLOSELy bEFoRe AcqUiEscinG.) bLUme's inveStment fiNally bROught The financing thAT enabLed THeM To pUbLiSh D&D. gygax workED On ruLes for MOre mINIatuREs And tABleTOp battLe gAmeS incLudIng clAsSIc warfarE (ancIEnt peRiod: 1500 bc to 500 ad) and warRIoRS of mars.