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As a DM, I usually steered clear of extensive use of luck during my D&D games. I preferred was for the plot and session development to be determined by player choice as opposed to random chance. That said, I chose to try something different, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

A well-known podcast showcases a DM who frequently asks for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by picking a polyhedral and assigning consequences contingent on the number. While it's essentially no different from rolling on a random table, these are devised in the moment when a course of events lacks a clear resolution.

I decided to try this approach at my own game, mainly because it looked interesting and offered a change from my normal practice. The results were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the perennial tension between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

At a session, my players had just emerged from a city-wide fight. Afterwards, a player asked about two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had survived. In place of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a deeply poignant moment where the characters came upon the corpses of their allies, forever clasped together in their final moments. The cleric conducted funeral rites, which was particularly significant due to previous character interactions. As a parting touch, I decided that the remains were miraculously transformed, showing a spell-storing object. By chance, the item's contained spell was perfectly what the group needed to resolve another major quest obstacle. One just plan such perfect coincidences.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if improvisation and thinking on your feet are actually the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. Although you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players often excel at upending the most detailed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate content in real-time.

Employing on-the-spot randomization is a fantastic way to train these talents without going completely outside your preparation. The strategy is to use them for minor situations that have a limited impact on the overarching story. For instance, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I might use it to figure out whether the PCs reach a location moments before a key action occurs.

Enhancing Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also helps make players feel invested and cultivate the sensation that the story is dynamic, shaping based on their choices as they play. It reduces the sense that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned story, thereby enhancing the collaborative nature of the game.

Randomization has historically been embedded in the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on encounter generators, which suited a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. While contemporary D&D frequently emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the required method.

Striking the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared. But, it's also fine nothing wrong with relinquishing control and letting the dice to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Control is a big part of a DM's role. We use it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core recommendation is this: Have no fear of letting go of the reins. Try a little improvisation for minor details. It may find that the unexpected outcome is significantly more powerful than anything you could have pre-written in advance.