Wandering DMs Season 08

Dan & Paul chat about the classic 1980’s sci-fi RPG, Star Frontiers, from the makers of D&D. We’re still running it today for younger players and having a great time. What are the great things about it that still work, and what places have we found for improvements to change with the times? It’s a high-frontier, shoot-em-up, percentile-rolling blast from the past!

Dan and Paul kick off Season 8 by diving into one of the most debated ideas in tabletop RPGs: The Rule of Cool. When should a GM stick to the written rules, and when is it better to bend or ignore them because the table is fired up about a particular moment? We talk about why this principle feels so powerful at the table, how it can elevate dramatic scenes and player creativity, and where it can quietly undermine consistency, fairness, or long-term play if it becomes a crutch. From heroic stunts to narrative twists, we explore how to use the Rule of Cool as a tool rather than an excuse.