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I'm new to the hobby but I see it thrown around a lot so I'm curious.

What exactly is the 'Rule of Cool'?

Something looking bad ass > then functionality

like duel wield TH, 100% worthless, but still bad ass.

Mostly it is a conversion that people make. Like recently there was a priest with guns thread. Using sisters of battle rules but with male bodies from other games/factions to make his own chapter.

Rule of Cool- If it is cool it is okay to use.

If it looks cool, it's ok to use.

One example:

Glueing a 1" bit of sprue between the feet and base of your guy with the lascannon, just so he is higher and has better line of sight: not cool, modeling for advantage, frowned upon.

Having your long fang standing on top the the felled tyranid beast, that he has just blown the head off of (and happens to set him a bit higher off the ground): Cool, looks awesome, generally acceptable,

You see it come up a lot when someone asks "Is it OK to use X as Y?" Where X might have a slightly different shape/size then what it's supposed to represent. As long as it's vaguely close, the Rule of Cool will cover any discrepancy. Note: Often when invoking the rule of cool, you are technically violating the rules. Cool is also in the eye of the beholder. So be careful how far you push things.

From a list building the Rule of Cool will justify obviously sub-par choices. Like Backspacehacker mentioned above, duel wielding thunder hammers has no real use. You would be better off in all situations going with a TH and a lightning claw if you want to go with two specialist weapons. But does that look nearly as awesome as someone with a pair of gigantic hammers? Nope, not even close. So if someone wants to run 2xTH, the RoC makes it OK.

Rule of cool also applies to unit choice. For Horus Heresy Betrayal, the destroyer squads are pretty mediocre.

But who doesn't think dual wielding pistols with jetpacks is cool enough to take? I do.

So, if I wanted to have one of my Dark Angels veterans duel wield Plasma Pistols, I can?

I'm assuming it's fine as long as it only counts as one plasma pistol when playing games?

Yeah that'd be fine I guess. At my FLGS you just point out what is what, just make sure your opponent knows what your DA is equiped with.

TimmyTheNerd wrote:
So, if I wanted to have one of my Dark Angels veterans duel wield Plasma Pistols, I can?

I'm assuming it's fine as long as it only counts as one plasma pistol when playing games?

As long as you make it absolutely clear to your opponent that he only has one, yeah, I'd say go for it.

Good example of the "Rule of Cool"

The Leman Russ Battle Tank


The LRBT has very few if any functionality.

the turret is too small for 3 people to fit in it (Commander, Gunner, loader)
there seems to be no suspension and so on.


But it looks good killing things, hence via the "Rule of Cool" the tank is accepted.

TimmyTheNerd wrote:
I'm new to the hobby but I see it thrown around a lot so I'm curious.

What exactly is the 'Rule of Cool'?

If you have, like, five free hours, then here is a good description: Rule of Cool

olike for example, I once intedned to use |Primarch Angron to represent a Daemon Prince with Axe of Blind Fury (didn't bother).

Because its an awesome looking model, a Primarch and Angron, and fits the sort of idea, Rule of Cool says its ok.

But If I had tried to use, say, a Tyranid Hive Tyrant, then rule of cool says no.

So, I think the OP is getting confused. The rule of cool isn't actually a rule. You will find it nowhere in the rulebook.

The basic gist is that there are stronger things and weaker things in 40k, but that you can justify taking crappier stuff if it looks or is awesome.

the rule of cool is the opposite of realism.

The Leman Russ is not at all realistic, nor are Marines with their helmets off or anything the orks make.

But they look cool so they get a pass.

 Engine of War wrote:
Good example of the "Rule of Cool"

The LRBT has very few if any functionality.

But it looks good killing things, hence via the "Rule of Cool" the tank is accepted.

Maybe in your world, but not mine. That ugly tank never makes it to the table in my armies. I far prefer 1/35 scale german PZIIIs and PZIVs for use as leman russ tanks. My current renegades army has a sherman M4A1 and an israeli super sherman for use as a leman russ and a leman russ vanquisher. Much better looking on the table when kitted out with some 40k details and bitz and crew pieces. Just cannot stand that ugly leman russ tank model. Hahahahahahaha...

Skriker

another example is the Space Marine Chapter Champion, "Rule of Cool" many people model him with 2 swords, even though there is no in game purpose since he already gets the bonus for 2 ccw weapons since he has a pistol. Actually you are making him worse since he has to replace his bolter with the 2nd blade.

But it looks cool so whatever.

Basically just means as long as a conversion or proxy is agreed to look really cool by both players, it is usually allowed in the game