With Gygax scarce around the office, it would be Kevin Blume, wielding the title of chief operating officer, who would steer the company to adopt a more professional identity through the imposition of unfamiliar discipline. Harken-
ing back to the 1976 employee handbook, staffers who failed to use the time-
clock properly would be given demerit points for a “major offense.” Blume’s primary concession to softening the tone of his internal communication was by festooning his memos with clip art from the Peanuts comic strip. Under his direction, significant staff turnover began to change the face of TSR.