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As a DM, I historically steered clear of extensive use of chance during my D&D games. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be shaped by character actions as opposed to random chance. However, I opted to change my approach, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

An influential podcast showcases a DM who frequently requests "luck rolls" from the adventurers. This involves picking a type of die and defining potential outcomes contingent on the result. While it's at its core no distinct from rolling on a random table, these are created spontaneously when a course of events has no clear conclusion.

I opted to test this approach at my own game, primarily because it looked engaging and offered a break from my usual habits. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial balance between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

In a recent session, my players had just emerged from a large-scale conflict. Later, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. Rather than deciding myself, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both died; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they survived.

The die came up a 4. This led to a deeply emotional scene where the adventurers found the corpses of their companions, forever united in their final moments. The group conducted last rites, which was particularly meaningful due to earlier roleplaying. In a concluding reward, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously restored, containing a enchanted item. I randomized, the item's magical effect was exactly what the party required to address another pressing story problem. It's impossible to orchestrate such magical story beats.

Honing DM Agility

This event made me wonder if improvisation and making it up are truly the essence of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Adventurers often take delight in upending the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate content in real-time.

Using similar mechanics is a excellent way to develop these abilities without straying too much outside your usual style. The strategy is to apply them for small-scale decisions that don't fundamentally change the overarching story. For instance, I would avoid using it to determine if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. However, I might use it to determine whether the party arrive just in time to see a critical event unfolds.

Strengthening Player Agency

This technique also helps maintain tension and cultivate the sensation that the game world is responsive, evolving according to their actions immediately. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby enhancing the collaborative aspect of roleplaying.

This philosophy has historically been part of the original design. The game's roots were reliant on charts, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. While modern D&D frequently focuses on narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the only path.

Striking the Right Balance

There is absolutely no problem with doing your prep. However, there is also no issue with stepping back and permitting the whim of chance to decide some things rather than you. Authority is a significant part of a DM's responsibilities. We require it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, even when doing so might improve the game.

The core advice is this: Don't be afraid of temporarily losing the reins. Try a little improvisation for smaller details. It may discover that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you could have scripted in advance.