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When I am a game master, I historically steered clear of extensive use of chance during my D&D adventures. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be shaped by deliberate decisions instead of random chance. However, I decided to try something different, and I'm truly pleased with the outcome.

The Inspiration: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known podcast utilizes a DM who often requests "chance rolls" from the players. This involves selecting a type of die and defining potential outcomes based on the result. While it's essentially no unlike rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created in the moment when a course of events doesn't have a predetermined outcome.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own session, mostly because it seemed interesting and presented a change from my usual habits. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to reconsider the perennial balance between pre-determination and improvisation in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

In a recent session, my party had survived a large-scale conflict. When the dust settled, a player inquired after two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Rather than choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I told the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, only one succumbed; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This led to a profoundly moving sequence where the party found the remains of their companions, still clasped together in death. The party held funeral rites, which was uniquely significant due to earlier character interactions. As a final reward, I decided that the forms were suddenly restored, revealing a enchanted item. I rolled for, the item's magical effect was precisely what the party required to address another major situation. One just plan this type of magical coincidences.

Sharpening On-the-Spot Skills

This experience led me to ponder if randomization and thinking on your feet are actually the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot may atrophy. Groups frequently find joy in derailing the best constructed plans. Therefore, a effective DM must be able to think quickly and invent scenarios in the moment.

Using similar mechanics is a great way to practice these abilities without straying too much outside your comfort zone. The key is to apply them for low-stakes decisions that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. As an example, I wouldn't use it to decide if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I might use it to figure out whether the party reach a location right after a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also helps keep players engaged and create the feeling that the adventure is responsive, progressing according to their decisions in real-time. It reduces the sense that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby strengthening the collaborative aspect of the game.

This philosophy has historically been embedded in the core of D&D. Original D&D were filled with charts, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although current D&D often focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the only path.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no problem with being prepared. But, there is also no problem with stepping back and allowing the rolls to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Authority is a big factor in a DM's job. We need it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, at times when doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of advice is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of the reins. Embrace a little improvisation for inconsequential outcomes. The result could create that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you would have pre-written on your own.