The Rules of Cool Characters v1.0 by Ashley May Format : PDF Acquired 10 June 2020 ; part of End of NAACP BUNDLE $9.99 [regular price $3.95] Product released/last updated 12 June 2019 Read 30 June 2020

Number of stars : 5

This is a great product that not only helps you to concoct a "cool" character but helps you to be a decent player; that is, one who is not a drag to play with.

We get a definition of "cool," along with sections on traits of cool people, the aesthetics of cool, the effects of loss, portraying vices and flaws, bad behaviors and how to avoid them, the complete guide to brooding in a corner, recovering from being completely uncool, and how to be a cool player. There is a lot to be found in 24 pages of content.

Preview : Gives a decent overview of the product.

Attribution : Check. All content and the artwork is by the author, except for the cover art.

TOC : Not present.

Formatting : Very well formatted. I love that none of the breakout boxes interrupt any of the text. Well done.

Art : All art, except for the cover, has a similar style that works well.

Style : This doesn't actually come up much since this isn't a rules-heavy text, but consistently follows D&D House Style.

Editing : 4.5 of 5 stars for editing. Perhaps could have used one more proofreader not involved with the project. This is much better than most products at DMsG though.

Number and type of files included : One PDF.

Value : Having got this as part of a bundle, I can say that it is a great value. Even if I had paid the full asking price I think it would still be a good value.

Outstanding player's supplement! Whether you are a veteran or still getting the hang of D&D, everyone should be mindful of the issues spotlighted within.

The art and layout is also topnotch!

Ashley does a great job providing players with narrative tools and inspiration to make "cool" character concepts come to life. I know I've made the "Edge Lord" character no one thought was cool except for myself. Had this existed back then I'd have enjoyed playing a "cool" character and the other players at my table would have enjoyed the experience as well.

I recommend this for players looking to up their roleplaying game at the table in a way everyone can enjoy.