In this episode of The Rule of Cool, Chris and James dive into one of D&D’s most awkward mechanics: downtime.

What starts as chaos (including NFL tangents and 90s nostalgia) quickly turns into a deep discussion on how dungeon masters can actually make downtime engaging. From zombie survival base-building to running full-blown carnivals in Witchlight, the hosts explore the creative system and why players rarely engage with them outside the table.

They break down the real reasons behind player disengagement, from group dynamics to pacing issues, and why communication matters more than any “perfect party size.” There’s also a strong focus on respecting players’ time, keeping sessions moving, and avoiding the dreaded three-hour intro.

The episode also tackles frustrations with the 2024 D&D rule, especially controversial creature mechanics, and why sometimes the Rule of Cool should override bad design.

Plus:

• Why one-shots never go to plan
• How to keep combat fast and engaging
• The “one-minute turn timer” trick every DM should try

A chaotic, honest, and practical episode for anyone trying to keep their table engaged—and their sessions fun.

In Episode 2 of the Rule of Cool Podcast, Chris Smith and James Peerless explore the moments in Dungeons & Dragons where everything hangs in the balance.

From debating the influence of Stranger Things on the popularity of D&D, to breaking down the strengths and frustrations of the Artificer class, the conversation moves through character creativity, table banter, and the importance of letting players experiment with ideas.

The hosts also introduce the dramatic Crit Coin rule, a once per campaign gamble that can turn a desperate situation into a legendary success or a catastrophic failure. Along the way they discuss memorable character builds, the role of improvisation in storytelling, and why some of the best moments in D&D happen when the plan goes completely off the rails.

As usual, the discussion wanders through accents, tangents, and questionable rules interpretations, proving once again that sometimes the best part of D&D is the chaos around the table.

Season 2 begins with a brand new format for Welcome 2 The Rule of Cool Podcast. With the show now running as a two-host setup, Chris Smith and James Peerless move away from the structured rule breakdowns of Season 1 and lean into a more relaxed, conversational style.

In this episode they discuss launching a zombie apocalypse D&D campaign with mostly new players, mixing 5e and 2024 rules, homebrew classes like the Lingering Soul, and introduce a new segment: Rule of Cool of the Week. Along the way they debate critical hit mechanics, DM philosophy, and inevitably drift into a few completely unrelated tangents.

Welcome to Season 2.

Wizard subclasses don’t really come online until level three, and that’s where the real power starts. This week, Christmas, James Peerless, and Josh Allen break down Abjuration’s Arcane Ward tankiness, Divination’s ridiculous Portent control and spell-slot recycling, and why Evocation turns cantrips and magic missile into reliably nasty damage. If you’ve ever wondered which wizard school actually pulls its weight, this one’s for you.

Quick apology, when we recorded this, we thought there was still one more episode to come. Sadly, the world had other plans. So please enjoy the final class in the book… and our last episode alongside our good friend, Josh Allen.

Casting a fresh spell on the WWW, our Welcome to the Wizardry episode conjures the secrets of the arcane Wizard class! With a flick of the wand, we aim to enchant not just our enchanted audience but also shed some mystical light on our less-scroll-savvy spellcasters behind the mic. As the 2024 tome of rules opens, we reveal if the Wizard has truly been leveled up or simply hexed into oblivion and blown to smitherines! Abraca-data!

In this Rule of Cool episode, Chris, Josh, and James dive headfirst into Warlock subclasses, calling it their "blind date" special– because who knows what kind of patron you're stuck with until level three? (Plus, with James being the Angry Scouse, it had to be done with a homage to his hometown hero Cilla Black!) They break down the Archfey, Celestial, Fiend, and Great Old One, from Misty Step manoeuvres to psychic damage and new healing tricks. Expect plenty of strategic laughs as they explore how to best utilise those hard-earned soul-selling powers!

In this Rule of Cool episode, Chris, Joshua, and James dive headfirst into the Warlock class, affectionately gushing over Eldritch Blast and comparing patrons to blind dates. They unpack wild new changes like Eldritch Smite and a warlock pyramid scheme, all while Chris almost admits the Sorcerer isn't terrible. It's a chaotic, pun-filled journey through D&D's most pact-tastic spellcasters, with a side of dancing bards.

The Sorcery Boys are back in town to sort through the beautiful bedlam of the new 2024 Sorcerer! This week is a deep dive into the subclasses, comparing the classic 5e versions to their modern forms.

We're going feature by feature on the revamped Draconic and Wild Magic origins to show you exactly what's different. Afterwards, we turn our attention to the beloved Aberrant Mind and Clockwork Soul, discussing how these Tasha's classics fit into the new D&D landscape and interact with the updated base class. If you want to know exactly how your favourite Sorcerer plays now, this is the episode for you. Listen now!

In this week's episode of Welcome to the Rule of Cool Podcast, we see our usual podcast hosts replaced by the one and only "Sorcery Boys" (trust me, stick with it and it will catch on!) Will the Sorcerer get a magical glow-up, or is it a chaotic misfire from our good friends at WoTC. Don't forget to tap into our Sorcery bloodline this week, and don't forget we'd love to hear from you, e-mail us on [email protected]

This week, we return to the world of Paladins and talk about all things with regards to Paladin's Oaths! With the weather heating up, so do our discussions over the changes between 2024 and 5e Paladin Oaths. So why not switch from your current Channel to Channel Divinity instead, while you join us on the Rule of Cool Podcast?!