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When I am a game master, I usually shied away from heavy use of randomization during my Dungeons & Dragons sessions. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice as opposed to random chance. However, I chose to try something different, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Observing a Custom Mechanic

A popular actual-play show features a DM who often requests "luck rolls" from the adventurers. The process entails choosing a polyhedral and outlining potential outcomes tied to the roll. It's at its core no unlike using a random table, these get invented on the spot when a character's decision lacks a obvious conclusion.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, primarily because it appeared interesting and presented a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing tension between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional In-Game Example

In a recent session, my group had survived a massive battle. When the dust settled, a cleric character wondered if two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. Instead of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a deeply moving moment where the adventurers came upon the bodies of their companions, forever clasped together in their final moments. The party held a ceremony, which was particularly significant due to earlier character interactions. As a parting gesture, I decided that the forms were suddenly restored, showing a spell-storing object. By chance, the item's magical effect was precisely what the party required to solve another pressing situation. It's impossible to plan this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Improving Your Improvisation

This experience led me to ponder if improvisation and spontaneity are actually the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles may atrophy. Groups often find joy in derailing the best constructed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios in the moment.

Using luck rolls is a excellent way to practice these skills without going completely outside your preparation. The trick is to deploy them for low-stakes decisions that have a limited impact on the overarching story. To illustrate, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I could use it to decide whether the PCs arrive just in time to see a critical event unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and foster the feeling that the story is dynamic, shaping based on their decisions immediately. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned script, thereby enhancing the shared aspect of the game.

This approach has always been part of the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on random tables, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although modern D&D tends to prioritizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the best approach.

Finding the Healthy Equilibrium

There is absolutely no issue with thorough preparation. However, there is also no problem with letting go and letting the whim of chance to guide minor details instead of you. Control is a significant part of a DM's responsibilities. We require it to run the game, yet we often struggle to give some up, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Embrace a little chance for minor details. The result could discover that the surprising result is infinitely more rewarding than anything you could have planned in advance.