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In my role as a game master, I usually avoided significant use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. I tended was for story direction and what happened in a game to be determined by character actions instead of the roll of a die. That said, I decided to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Watching an Improvised Tool

An influential actual-play show features a DM who often asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by choosing a type of die and assigning consequences tied to the number. While it's fundamentally no distinct from consulting a random table, these are created on the spot when a character's decision has no obvious resolution.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own session, primarily because it looked interesting and provided a change from my standard routine. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing dynamic between pre-determination and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable Session Moment

At a session, my players had just emerged from a massive fight. Afterwards, a player asked about two key NPCs—a pair—had survived. Rather than picking a fate, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, a single one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a incredibly poignant moment where the adventurers came upon the remains of their allies, still holding hands in death. The cleric performed last rites, which was especially powerful due to prior roleplaying. In a concluding gesture, I chose that the forms were miraculously restored, revealing a enchanted item. I randomized, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the group required to solve another pressing story problem. It's impossible to script this type of perfect moments.

Sharpening DM Agility

This experience made me wonder if chance and spontaneity are in fact the beating heart of this game. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Groups often take delight in derailing the best constructed plans. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate details in the moment.

Using similar mechanics is a great way to develop these talents without going completely outside your preparation. The trick is to use them for low-stakes circumstances that don't fundamentally change the overarching story. To illustrate, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. However, I could use it to figure out if the characters enter a room just in time to see a key action takes place.

Empowering Player Agency

Luck rolls also serves to keep players engaged and foster the feeling that the game world is responsive, shaping according to their decisions in real-time. It prevents the sense that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby enhancing the collaborative nature of roleplaying.

This philosophy has long been part of the game's DNA. Original D&D were enamored with random tables, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. Even though modern D&D tends to emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the required method.

Finding the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely no problem with thorough preparation. But, equally valid no issue with stepping back and permitting the dice to guide minor details rather than you. Direction is a major aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core suggestion is this: Have no fear of letting go of the reins. Try a little randomness for inconsequential story elements. You might just find that the unexpected outcome is infinitely more powerful than anything you would have planned on your own.