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In my role as a Dungeon Master, I traditionally avoided heavy use of chance during my D&D games. I preferred was for story direction and what happened in a game to be shaped by deliberate decisions rather than random chance. That said, I chose to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A popular actual-play show showcases a DM who regularly calls for "chance rolls" from the participants. The process entails picking a polyhedral and outlining potential outcomes contingent on the result. This is at its core no unlike consulting a pre-generated chart, these get invented in the moment when a player's action lacks a obvious conclusion.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own session, mainly because it appeared novel and provided a departure from my normal practice. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing dynamic between planning and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Memorable Story Beat

During one session, my party had just emerged from a large-scale fight. Later, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. In place of choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a incredibly poignant scene where the party found the remains of their friends, still clasped together in their final moments. The party held last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to previous character interactions. As a final reward, I chose that the forms were strangely transformed, showing a spell-storing object. I randomized, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the group needed to solve another major quest obstacle. One just script this type of magical moments.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event caused me to question if chance and spontaneity are in fact the essence of this game. Although you are a prep-heavy DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players often excel at ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create content in real-time.

Using on-the-spot randomization is a great way to develop these skills without straying too much outside your preparation. The strategy is to use them for minor circumstances that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to establish if the main villain is a traitor. However, I would consider using it to determine if the PCs arrive moments before a critical event unfolds.

Enhancing Player Agency

Luck rolls also helps maintain tension and create the impression that the game world is dynamic, progressing based on their decisions immediately. It reduces the feeling that they are merely characters in a pre-written narrative, thereby bolstering the collaborative foundation of the game.

This philosophy has long been embedded in the original design. Early editions were filled with charts, which made sense for a game focused on treasure hunting. While current D&D often emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the only path.

Striking the Right Balance

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing your prep. Yet, it's also fine nothing wrong with letting go and letting the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Control is a major factor in a DM's responsibilities. We use it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, even when doing so could be beneficial.

The core recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of your plan. Try a little improvisation for smaller details. It may create that the unexpected outcome is significantly more rewarding than anything you would have pre-written on your own.