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As a game master, I traditionally avoided extensive use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons games. My preference was for narrative flow and session development to be guided by player choice rather than pure luck. That said, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Inspiration: Watching an Improvised Tool

A well-known actual-play show showcases a DM who often asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. This involves picking a type of die and outlining possible results tied to the number. It's essentially no distinct from consulting a random table, these are devised on the spot when a player's action has no predetermined conclusion.

I decided to try this method at my own table, mainly because it seemed interesting and presented a break from my usual habits. The results were fantastic, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing tension between planning and improvisation in a tabletop session.

An Emotional In-Game Example

In a recent session, my party had just emerged from a massive fight. Later, a player inquired after two key NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. Instead of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a profoundly moving sequence where the adventurers discovered the corpses of their allies, still united in their final moments. The party conducted funeral rites, which was uniquely powerful due to prior roleplaying. As a final touch, I improvised that the remains were miraculously restored, showing a enchanted item. I randomized, the item's contained spell was exactly what the group required to solve another critical situation. You simply plan such serendipitous story beats.

Honing On-the-Spot Skills

This experience caused me to question if chance and spontaneity are truly the core of this game. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your improvisation muscles may atrophy. Players often excel at ignoring the best constructed plans. Therefore, a good DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create content in real-time.

Employing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to train these skills without venturing too far outside your usual style. The trick is to deploy them for low-stakes situations that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. As an example, I would avoid using it to decide if the main villain is a secret enemy. But, I could use it to decide whether the characters enter a room right after a critical event occurs.

Enhancing Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and cultivate the impression that the game world is responsive, shaping according to their actions as they play. It prevents the sense that they are merely characters in a pre-written narrative, thereby enhancing the cooperative aspect of roleplaying.

This philosophy has historically been integral to the original design. Early editions were enamored with random tables, which made sense for a game focused on treasure hunting. Even though modern D&D tends to focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Finding the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no issue with doing your prep. However, equally valid no problem with letting go and permitting the whim of chance to guide minor details in place of you. Authority is a big factor in a DM's job. We need it to facilitate play, yet we often struggle to give some up, at times when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of advice is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Try a little chance for inconsequential story elements. It may find that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you could have planned by yourself.