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When I am a game master, I usually steered clear of significant use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. 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 very happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing an Improvised Tool

An influential podcast features a DM who frequently calls for "chance rolls" from the players. This involves selecting a polyhedral and outlining consequences tied to the result. While it's essentially no different from using a random table, these are created in the moment when a player's action has no obvious outcome.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own game, mainly because it seemed interesting and provided a change from my standard routine. The results were fantastic, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing dynamic between planning and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful In-Game Example

At a session, my players had just emerged from a large-scale conflict. Later, a player inquired after two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a deeply poignant scene where the adventurers came upon the bodies of their friends, forever holding hands in death. The party conducted funeral rites, which was especially meaningful due to previous roleplaying. As a final touch, I decided that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously restored, showing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the item's contained spell was exactly what the party required to address another critical quest obstacle. You simply orchestrate this type of magical moments.

Sharpening DM Agility

This experience led me to ponder if randomization and thinking on your feet are truly the core of D&D. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players frequently excel at ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to pivot effectively and create content in real-time.

Employing luck rolls is a great way to train these talents without straying too much outside your preparation. The strategy is to use them for small-scale decisions that have a limited impact on the overarching story. For instance, I would avoid using it to establish if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. But, I might use it to decide whether the characters enter a room right after a critical event occurs.

Strengthening Player Agency

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and foster the feeling that the adventure is responsive, shaping in reaction to their decisions immediately. It prevents the sense that they are merely pawns in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby strengthening the collaborative nature of roleplaying.

This approach has long been integral to the game's DNA. Original D&D were enamored with encounter generators, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. While current D&D frequently focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the best approach.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no problem with being prepared. However, equally valid no issue with relinquishing control and letting the whim of chance to decide some things instead of you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, at times when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of recommendation is this: Have no fear of temporarily losing the reins. Embrace a little randomness for smaller story elements. The result could discover that the unexpected outcome is significantly more powerful than anything you might have scripted on your own.