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As a Dungeon Master, I usually shied away from extensive use of luck during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I preferred was for the plot and session development to be determined by deliberate decisions instead of the roll of a die. Recently, I chose to change my approach, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

An influential actual-play show utilizes a DM who often requests "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a polyhedral and outlining possible results based on the roll. It's essentially no unlike consulting a random table, these are created in the moment when a character's decision has no obvious outcome.

I opted to test this approach at my own table, mainly because it seemed novel and provided a change from my usual habits. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing balance between preparation and improvisation in a tabletop session.

A Powerful Story Beat

In a recent session, my party had concluded a city-wide battle. Later, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. In place of deciding myself, 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; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a incredibly poignant moment where the characters discovered the corpses of their companions, still holding hands in their final moments. The cleric held funeral rites, which was uniquely meaningful due to earlier story developments. In a concluding gesture, I decided that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, containing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group required to address another major story problem. It's impossible to plan this type of magical moments.

Sharpening DM Agility

This incident led me to ponder if improvisation and making it up are truly the beating heart of D&D. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Players reliably excel at ignoring the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to pivot effectively and invent content on the fly.

Employing similar mechanics is a great way to practice these talents without venturing too far outside your comfort zone. The key is to use them for minor circumstances that don't fundamentally change the overarching story. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the central plot figure is a traitor. But, I could use it to determine whether the PCs arrive right after a critical event occurs.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also works to keep players engaged and create the feeling that the story is responsive, shaping in reaction to their decisions as they play. It prevents the sense that they are merely characters in a pre-written narrative, thereby bolstering the shared foundation of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been embedded in the original design. Early editions were reliant on charts, which suited a playstyle focused on exploration. Although contemporary D&D frequently emphasizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the only path.

Finding the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with doing your prep. Yet, equally valid no problem with letting go and allowing the whim of chance to guide minor details in place of you. Direction is a big factor in a DM's job. We need it to run the game, yet we often struggle to cede it, even when doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of your plan. Experiment with a little randomness for inconsequential details. The result could discover that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you might have scripted by yourself.