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In my role as a DM, I usually steered clear of significant use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. My preference was for the plot and session development to be determined by deliberate decisions rather than pure luck. Recently, I opted to alter my method, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Observing an Improvised Tool

A well-known actual-play show showcases a DM who frequently asks for "fate rolls" from the participants. This involves picking a specific dice and outlining potential outcomes contingent on the result. While it's fundamentally no distinct from consulting a random table, these get invented on the spot when a player's action has no obvious outcome.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own table, mainly because it seemed novel and provided a departure from my normal practice. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated balance between pre-determination and randomization in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional In-Game Example

During one session, my party had concluded a large-scale conflict. When the dust settled, a player asked about two key NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Instead of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving scene where the characters found the bodies of their allies, forever clasped together in death. The cleric conducted last rites, which was especially meaningful due to earlier roleplaying. In a concluding gesture, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously transformed, showing a enchanted item. By chance, the item's contained spell was exactly what the party lacked to address another critical story problem. It's impossible to script this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This event made me wonder if chance and making it up are truly the core of D&D. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Groups reliably find joy in derailing the most detailed plans. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and invent content in real-time.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to develop these talents without straying too much outside your preparation. The key is to apply them for minor circumstances that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to establish if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I might use it to determine whether the characters enter a room right after a major incident takes place.

Empowering Shared Narrative

This technique also serves to keep players engaged and foster the impression that the story is alive, evolving in reaction to their choices in real-time. It reduces the sense that they are merely pawns in a DM's sole story, thereby bolstering the cooperative foundation of storytelling.

This approach has always been integral to the game's DNA. The game's roots were filled with encounter generators, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. While contemporary D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the required method.

Finding the Healthy Equilibrium

There is absolutely no issue with doing your prep. However, equally valid no issue with relinquishing control and permitting the rolls to guide minor details instead of you. Authority is a significant part of a DM's job. We need it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of the reins. Experiment with a little chance for minor details. You might just find that the surprising result is infinitely more rewarding than anything you would have pre-written in advance.