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In my role as a DM, I traditionally shied away from extensive use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I preferred was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be determined by player choice instead of pure luck. That said, I opted to alter my method, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing an Improvised Tool

A well-known actual-play show features a DM who regularly asks for "luck rolls" from the players. He does this by selecting a type of die and outlining consequences tied to the number. This is essentially no unlike consulting a pre-generated chart, these get invented on the spot when a player's action lacks a clear resolution.

I decided to try this approach at my own game, primarily because it looked engaging and presented a break from my normal practice. The experience were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing balance between pre-determination and improvisation in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Story Beat

In a recent session, my group had survived a large-scale conflict. When the dust settled, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had survived. In place of deciding myself, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a incredibly moving sequence where the characters came upon the remains of their allies, forever united in death. The cleric performed last rites, which was particularly powerful due to previous roleplaying. As a parting reward, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the party needed to resolve another critical quest obstacle. One just plan such perfect story beats.

Sharpening DM Agility

This event caused me to question if randomization and making it up are truly the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Groups frequently excel at upending the most detailed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to pivot effectively and fabricate details in the moment.

Employing on-the-spot randomization is a great way to train these skills without straying too much outside your preparation. The key is to use them for small-scale situations that have a limited impact on the session's primary direction. To illustrate, I would avoid using it to establish if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I could use it to figure out whether the characters reach a location right after a key action unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also serves to maintain tension and create the sensation that the story is responsive, progressing according to their decisions as they play. It reduces the perception that they are merely pawns in a rigidly planned script, thereby bolstering the shared foundation of the game.

This philosophy has historically been integral to the original design. Early editions were reliant on encounter generators, which made sense for a playstyle focused on exploration. While contemporary D&D tends to prioritizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Striking the Right Balance

Absolutely nothing wrong with being prepared. Yet, there is also no problem with letting go and allowing the whim of chance to decide some things rather than you. Direction is a big factor in a DM's job. We need it to run the game, yet we often struggle to release it, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

My final recommendation is this: Have no fear of temporarily losing control. Experiment with a little chance for smaller outcomes. It may discover that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you could have pre-written in advance.