How can we balance the need for open archives with the need for small indie creators to get paid for their hard work?

The Trove violated copyright law, even for out-of-print books (copyright persists for decades after print runs end).

before evolving into The Trove. It served as a community-driven library for virtually every TTRPG imaginable: Major Systems : Comprehensive collections for Dungeons & Dragons (all editions), Pathfinder Warhammer 40,000 Niche Titles : Obscure games like Third-Party Content : Materials from celebrated publishers like Kobold Press were often available shortly after release. 2. The Current State (Why It Disappeared)

But that was the lie that made the dream work. The Trove absolutely had current editions. It had Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything within 48 hours of its global release. It had limited-edition Kickstarter exclusives that backers had paid $200 for.

The Trove was a massive digital repository for tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) materials that operated as a free, unauthorized archive for several years before its permanent shutdown in late 2021 Historical Overview The site began as the Remuz RPG Archive