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In my role as a game master, I traditionally shied away from heavy use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons sessions. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be determined by character actions as opposed to pure luck. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

A popular podcast features a DM who frequently asks for "luck rolls" from the players. He does this by picking a polyhedral and assigning consequences tied to the roll. This is essentially no distinct from using a random table, these get invented spontaneously when a player's action lacks a predetermined outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own table, primarily because it appeared novel and presented a change from my standard routine. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the perennial balance between preparation and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful In-Game Example

In a recent session, my group had just emerged from a city-wide fight. Later, a cleric character wondered if two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. Instead of deciding myself, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, a single one would die; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This triggered a profoundly emotional moment where the characters discovered the corpses of their companions, still united in their final moments. The cleric performed funeral rites, which was particularly significant due to prior character interactions. In a concluding touch, I improvised that the forms were suddenly restored, showing a enchanted item. I randomized, the item's magical effect was precisely what the party lacked to address another major quest obstacle. One just script this type of serendipitous story beats.

Sharpening On-the-Spot Skills

This event led me to ponder if improvisation and spontaneity are actually the essence of tabletop RPGs. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Adventurers often find joy in upending the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate details in real-time.

Employing luck rolls is a great way to develop these talents without going completely outside your usual style. The trick is to deploy them for minor decisions that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. As an example, I wouldn't use it to decide if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I could use it to decide if the characters enter a room moments before a critical event takes place.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Spontaneous randomization also serves to keep players engaged and create the impression that the story is responsive, evolving based on their choices immediately. It reduces the perception that they are merely pawns in a DM's sole story, thereby enhancing the collaborative nature of the game.

This approach has historically been integral to the original design. Early editions were enamored with encounter generators, which made sense for a game focused on dungeon crawling. Although modern D&D frequently focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the only path.

Striking the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no problem with thorough preparation. But, equally valid nothing wrong with stepping back and permitting the dice to guide minor details in place of you. Direction is a significant factor in a DM's role. We use it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

My final recommendation is this: Have no fear of temporarily losing your plan. Try a little randomness for smaller story elements. The result could create that the unexpected outcome is far more powerful than anything you could have pre-written in advance.