Welcome 2 Rule of Cool Podcast

Rule of Cool Podcast
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Welcome to The Rule of Cool, The podcast that tries to (not very well) endorse the fact that you don't need to be a stereotypical nerd to play Dungeons and Dragons! Join us as we dive into the world of D&D and geek culture with a fresh perspective, offering bite-sized episodes under 45 minutes. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just getting started, each episode gives you a fun mix of game insights, nostalgic moments, and a celebration of the game that brings us together week after week! Tune in weekly or binge them all in one go or write to us on welcome2rocpodcast@gmail.com

  1. Sep 23

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP17 - Forced Rebellion

    This fortnight, Chris and James ask some dangerous questions: is D&D actually better online? Can solo D&D ever match sitting around a table? And, perhaps most terrifyingly, are we ready to let AI sit behind the DM screen? James recounts a chaotic Level 8 one-shot where his carefully planned support Wizard discovers the biggest threat isn't the monsters, it's his own party. We also debut Will It D&D?, throwing everything from Terminator and Mad Max to John Wick, Pirates and Scooby-Doo into the fantasy blender to see what survives. Finally, our Rule of Cool tackles DM burnout with a simple player-led recap trick that might actually make your campaign better. Wizards are growers, AI keeps making the room colder, and apparently guns are where James draws the line. Welcome back to the Rule of Cool. 🎲

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP17 - Forced Rebellion

  2. Sep 9

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP16 - Critical Company

    What actually makes D&D… D&D? James survives a chaotic Level 8 one-shot, Chris questions whether solo D&D can ever truly feel epic, and we weigh up online play against the beautiful chaos of sitting around an actual table. We also venture into the increasingly terrifying world of AI Dungeon Masters, including a murder mystery where the room just kept getting colder and colder… Then it’s time for Will It D&D?, as we throw everything from pirates and killer robots to post-apocalyptic wastelands and cartoon mysteries into the fantasy blender to see what survives. Finally, our Rule of Cool tackles DM burnout with a simple player-led recap trick that might tell you more about your campaign than any traditional “last time on…” Turns out the most important ingredient in D&D might not be dragons, dungeons or even dice. It might just be the idiots sitting around the table with you.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP16 - Critical Company

  3. Aug 26

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP15 - Ravenloft Shadows

    The Dark Gifts are getting weirder, darker and much more interesting as Chris and James descend deeper into Ravenloft. Mistwalker, Second Skin, Symbiotic Being, Touch of Death, Watchers and Echoing Soul all go under the microscope, from mist-travelling curses and involuntary transformations to body-sharing symbiotes, paranoia and Lovecraftian horror. Which are brilliant roleplay fuel, and which come with drawbacks that make them almost unusable? Elsewhere, the pair question whether anyone actually wants to leave 2014 D&D behind, ask why great mechanics keep getting locked behind specific settings, share their scepticism about the upcoming Star Wars crossover, and tackle the 2024 Search Action. Then it’s Monkey’s Paw wishes, questionable superpowers and a Rule of the Week that turns critical failures into successes with complications, keeping the story moving while making everything considerably worse.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP15 - Ravenloft Shadows

  4. Aug 12

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP14 - Ravenloft Gifts

    Chris and James return for Ravenloft Part 4, exploring the Lupin, the Reborn and a selection of supernatural Dark Gifts. They debate whether these character options live up to their brilliant themes, which abilities feel underwhelming or poorly balanced, and how different classes could make the most of them. The discussion also explores why powerful features are often more interesting when they come with genuine drawbacks, flaws and consequences. The Rule of Cool, Rule of the Week introduces Death or Glory, an alternative death-saving system where players can risk everything on one dramatic roll, potentially returning stronger or suffering permanent consequences. Plus, moustaches, Magnum P.I., Super Mario and James's upcoming darts trip to Blackpool.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP14 - Ravenloft Gifts

  5. Jul 29

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP13 - Ravenloft Origins

    The Ravenloft: Horrors Within series continues as Chris and James explore one of the biggest changes coming to Dungeons & Dragons 5.5: backgrounds and species. Do the new backgrounds encourage richer storytelling, or are they just another excuse to min-max your character? The duo break down the Haunted One, Investigator, Mist Wanderer and Spirit Medium backgrounds, sharing their favourite roleplaying hooks before putting each through the infamous Rock Hard Ratings. They also sink their teeth into Ravenloft's playable species, debating whether Dampyrs live up to the vampire fantasy, if Hexbloods should have been subclasses instead, and why D&D might finally have too many species to choose from. To round things off, Chris and James climb onto their favourite soapbox to discuss why familiars deserve to be treated like trusted companions instead of disposable scouting drones. Whether you're creating your next character or just looking for inspiration at the table, this episode is packed with laughs, opinions and plenty of Rule of Cool. 🎲 Roll initiative and join us for another episode of Welcome 2 The Rule of Cool.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP13 - Ravenloft Origins

  6. Jul 15

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP12 - Ravenloft Whispers

    The mists have more secrets to reveal... In Part Two of our Heroes of the Horrors Within series, Chris and James dive into Ravenloft's latest subclasses, discussing everything from the eerie Hollow Warden Ranger to what might be one of the best subclasses in D&D 5.5, the Phantom Rogue. Along the way they debate whether Rangers can finally compete, explore how roleplay can elevate any character, and explain why working with your Dungeon Master creates unforgettable moments at the table. They also discuss monster harvesting, meaningful loot, session pacing, and why investment is the secret ingredient to every great campaign. If you're looking to bring more atmosphere, creativity and horror to your next game, this episode is for you.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP12 - Ravenloft Whispers

  7. Jul 1

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP11 - Ravenloft Rising

    The mists have rolled in, and so has our first deep dive into Horrors Within. Chris and James begin a new miniseries exploring Ravenloft's latest book, sharing their honest thoughts on the subclasses, themes and ideas that caught their attention. From whether horror campaigns can ever truly be scary to the debate around consent pages versus atmosphere, nothing escapes the Rule of Cool treatment. This week, they take a closer look at the Grave Domain Cleric, Shadow Sorcerer, Undead Warlock and the brilliantly chaotic College of Spirits Bard. They question whether giving players terrifying powers actually weakens a horror setting, celebrate subclasses that bring something genuinely new to the table, and somehow end up discussing dream campaigns, Matrix-inspired D&D and why rolling randomly is often far more entertaining than making the sensible choice. Expect horror, humour, questionable opinions and plenty of sarcastic tangents as we journey into Ravenloft.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP11 - Ravenloft Rising

  8. Jun 24

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP10 - Crossing Streams

    Chris Smith and James Peerless return for another wonderfully unstructured dive into all things nerd culture. Despite being a D&D podcast, this week's conversation veers through England's Darts World Cup triumph, assigning D&D classes to England footballers, debating the best franchise crossovers, and somehow ends up discussing Spider-Man, Pokémon, Lego sets, and zombie survival campaigns. Along the way, the pair explore why Dungeons & Dragons has become more mainstream than ever, dream up future crossover possibilities, and share some practical Dungeon Master advice on keeping players engaged. The episode is called Crossing Streams, which, as any sensible person knows, is generally considered a terrible idea. Fortunately for our millions of listeners, mixing D&D, football, superheroes, and Pokémon together has only resulted in mild chaos. New episodes every Wednesday.

    Rule of Cool Season 2 EP10 - Crossing Streams
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About

Welcome to The Rule of Cool, The podcast that tries to (not very well) endorse the fact that you don't need to be a stereotypical nerd to play Dungeons and Dragons! Join us as we dive into the world of D&D and geek culture with a fresh perspective, offering bite-sized episodes under 45 minutes. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer or just getting started, each episode gives you a fun mix of game insights, nostalgic moments, and a celebration of the game that brings us together week after week! Tune in weekly or binge them all in one go or write to us on welcome2rocpodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Rule of Cool Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rule of Cool Podcast
  • Show Website
    Welcome 2 Rule of Cool Podcast