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As a DM, I traditionally shied away from heavy use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons adventures. My preference was for narrative flow and session development to be shaped by character actions instead of pure luck. However, I chose to alter my method, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

An influential podcast showcases a DM who frequently requests "fate rolls" from the participants. The process entails choosing a polyhedral and defining consequences contingent on the number. While it's fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a random table, these are created spontaneously when a player's action has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this technique at my own session, mainly because it seemed novel and presented a departure from my normal practice. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the perennial balance between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional Session Moment

In a recent session, my players had concluded a city-wide battle. When the dust settled, a player inquired after two friendly NPCs—a pair—had survived. Instead of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: on a 1-4, both were killed; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a incredibly moving scene where the characters discovered the bodies of their friends, still holding hands in death. The group held a ceremony, which was particularly meaningful due to previous roleplaying. As a final reward, I chose that the remains were strangely restored, containing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the party needed to address another pressing quest obstacle. You simply script this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if randomization and making it up are truly the core of this game. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Adventurers reliably take delight in upending the most carefully laid narratives. Therefore, a good DM must be able to pivot effectively and create content on the fly.

Utilizing luck rolls is a excellent way to train these abilities without straying too much outside your preparation. The key is to deploy them for minor circumstances that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. To illustrate, I would not employ it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. Instead, I might use it to decide whether the party reach a location moments before a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Player Agency

This technique also serves to maintain tension and foster the sensation that the adventure is alive, shaping based on their actions as they play. It reduces the sense that they are merely actors in a DM's sole script, thereby bolstering the collaborative foundation of roleplaying.

Randomization has historically been embedded in the core of D&D. The game's roots were reliant on charts, which fit a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although current D&D frequently prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly nothing wrong with doing your prep. However, there is also no problem with letting go and letting the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Control is a major part of a DM's responsibilities. We use it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, at times when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of recommendation is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing the reins. Experiment with a little chance for minor story elements. You might just discover that the organic story beat is significantly more rewarding than anything you would have scripted by yourself.