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When I am a Dungeon Master, I traditionally steered clear of heavy use of randomization during my D&D games. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be determined by character actions as opposed to random chance. However, I opted to try something different, and I'm truly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Observing an Improvised Tool

A popular streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly calls for "chance rolls" from the players. The process entails selecting a type of die and defining possible results tied to the number. While it's fundamentally no unlike rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created spontaneously when a player's action has no clear resolution.

I opted to test this approach at my own game, mainly because it seemed novel and provided a change from my standard routine. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing dynamic between pre-determination and improvisation in a tabletop session.

An Emotional In-Game Example

At a session, my group had survived a large-scale conflict. Later, a cleric character asked about two key NPCs—a pair—had lived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The stakes were: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, only one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a deeply poignant sequence where the adventurers discovered the corpses of their companions, forever holding hands in death. The cleric held last rites, which was especially meaningful due to previous story developments. In a concluding gesture, I chose that the remains were miraculously restored, revealing a enchanted item. By chance, the item's contained spell was perfectly what the group lacked to solve another critical situation. You simply script these kinds of serendipitous moments.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This event caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are truly the core of tabletop RPGs. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Players reliably take delight in ignoring the most detailed plots. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to pivot effectively and invent content in real-time.

Employing luck rolls is a excellent way to develop these skills without venturing too far outside your usual style. The key is to use them for small-scale decisions that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. As an example, I would avoid using it to determine if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. Instead, I could use it to determine whether the characters enter a room just in time to see a key action occurs.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and create the feeling that the story is alive, progressing based on their decisions immediately. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned script, thereby enhancing the shared nature of roleplaying.

This approach has historically been integral to the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on charts, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. While current D&D tends to focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, this isn't always the required method.

Finding the Healthy Equilibrium

Absolutely no problem with thorough preparation. But, it's also fine no issue with relinquishing control and letting the rolls to decide some things instead of you. Control is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to run the game, yet we often struggle to give some up, at times when doing so might improve the game.

My final recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of control. Embrace a little chance for smaller story elements. It may find that the unexpected outcome is significantly more rewarding than anything you would have scripted on your own.