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When I am a DM, I historically steered clear of significant use of luck during my D&D sessions. My preference was for the plot and session development to be determined by deliberate decisions rather than the roll of a die. However, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Spark: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

An influential podcast features a DM who often asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by choosing a polyhedral and assigning potential outcomes tied to the result. While it's fundamentally no unlike rolling on a pre-generated chart, these get invented in the moment when a course of events has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this method at my own session, primarily because it appeared novel and presented a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the often-debated dynamic between planning and spontaneity in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable Session Moment

In a recent session, my group had concluded a massive conflict. Afterwards, a player inquired after two key NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. In place of choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, only one would die; a high roll, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving sequence where the adventurers discovered the bodies of their companions, still clasped together in their final moments. The group performed a ceremony, which was particularly powerful due to prior character interactions. As a parting gesture, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, revealing a enchanted item. I randomized, the item's magical effect was precisely what the group lacked to resolve another critical quest obstacle. You simply orchestrate these kinds of magical moments.

Honing Your Improvisation

This incident made me wonder if improvisation and thinking on your feet are actually the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your improvisation muscles can rust. Players frequently take delight in upending the best constructed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate content on the fly.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a excellent way to develop these abilities without straying too much outside your preparation. The key is to deploy them for minor situations that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. For instance, I would avoid using it to decide if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I might use it to determine whether the PCs arrive right after a critical event takes place.

Empowering Shared Narrative

This technique also serves to make players feel invested and foster the impression that the game world is dynamic, shaping based on their actions as they play. It combats the perception that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned script, thereby strengthening the collaborative foundation of the game.

This philosophy has always been embedded in the original design. The game's roots were reliant on random tables, which made sense for a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. Although modern D&D often emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, this isn't always the required method.

Striking the Sweet Spot

It is perfectly no issue with doing your prep. But, it's also fine no problem with stepping back and allowing the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's job. We use it to manage the world, yet we often struggle to cede it, at times when doing so can lead to great moments.

The core suggestion is this: Do not fear of letting go of your plan. Try a little randomness for inconsequential details. It may find that the surprising result is significantly more memorable than anything you could have scripted by yourself.