The Trove was a massive online archive dedicated to hosting digital files of tabletop RPGs. Unlike retail platforms, it operated as a free public repository.
Publishers and independent writers argued that The Trove directly harmed the TTRPG industry. Unlike massive video game studios, many RPG creators are solo developers or small indie teams. When their books were pirated on The Trove, it directly impacted their ability to make a living and fund future projects. The Argument For (Preservation and Access) The Trove Rpg Archive
The problem, of course, was that the vast majority of this "free" content was copyrighted. The Trove was a massive piracy hub, distributing books without the permission of the creators who had invested countless hours into their work. As one creator put it, "It is wholly unethical to share PDF books without the express permission of a creator," arguing that "creators don’t get paid ‘in exposure’ on 4chan, The Trove, or torrent sites". The Trove was a massive online archive dedicated
From roughly 2015–2020, The Trove was the largest public collection of TTRPG PDFs on the internet. It functioned as a fan-run library that included: Unlike massive video game studios, many RPG creators