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In my role as a DM, I traditionally avoided heavy use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. I tended was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be shaped by deliberate decisions as opposed to pure luck. Recently, I opted to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who frequently asks for "fate rolls" from the players. He does this by choosing a polyhedral and defining potential outcomes contingent on the roll. It's fundamentally no unlike using a random table, these get invented in the moment when a course of events lacks a predetermined resolution.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own session, mostly because it appeared interesting and presented a break from my usual habits. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated balance between planning and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable In-Game Example

In a recent session, my group had concluded a massive battle. When the dust settled, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. Instead of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, only one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This led to a incredibly poignant scene where the party found the remains of their friends, still united in their final moments. The cleric held last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to previous story developments. As a parting gesture, I decided that the remains were suddenly transformed, containing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the item's magical effect was perfectly what the party needed to resolve another major situation. One just script this type of serendipitous story beats.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This experience made me wonder if randomization and thinking on your feet are actually the essence of D&D. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Adventurers often excel at derailing the most carefully laid narratives. Therefore, a good DM must be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios in the moment.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to develop these talents without venturing too far outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to use them for minor decisions that have a limited impact on the session's primary direction. To illustrate, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I would consider using it to decide if the characters reach a location moments before a key action takes place.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also helps maintain tension and foster the impression that the adventure is responsive, progressing according to their actions in real-time. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby strengthening the shared foundation of storytelling.

This approach has always been integral to the core of D&D. Early editions were reliant on encounter generators, which made sense for a game focused on exploration. Although modern D&D tends to prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the required method.

Striking the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely no problem with doing your prep. However, there is also nothing wrong with relinquishing control and letting the whim of chance to decide some things rather than you. Direction is a significant part of a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we often struggle to release it, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

A piece of advice is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing control. Embrace a little improvisation for minor details. It may find that the organic story beat is far more rewarding than anything you could have scripted by yourself.