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In my role as a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided extensive use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons adventures. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than pure luck. That said, I chose to change my approach, and I'm truly pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

An influential streamed game utilizes a DM who frequently requests "luck rolls" from the players. This involves picking a polyhedral and outlining possible results based on the number. This is fundamentally no unlike using a random table, these are created on the spot when a course of events lacks a clear outcome.

I decided to try this method at my own game, mostly because it looked novel and provided a change from my usual habits. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reconsider the perennial tension between planning and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Session Moment

In a recent session, my group had survived a massive battle. Later, a cleric character asked about two beloved NPCs—a pair—had made it. Instead of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both were killed; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a deeply moving sequence where the party discovered the bodies of their companions, still holding hands in death. The cleric performed last rites, which was particularly significant due to earlier character interactions. As a final touch, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly restored, containing a enchanted item. By chance, the item's contained spell was exactly what the group needed to address another critical quest obstacle. You simply plan these kinds of perfect coincidences.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event led me to ponder if improvisation and thinking on your feet are truly the beating heart of D&D. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Groups frequently excel at ignoring the most carefully laid narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and create details in real-time.

Employing similar mechanics is a great way to develop these talents without straying too much outside your preparation. The strategy is to deploy them for low-stakes circumstances that have a limited impact on the overarching story. For instance, I would not employ it to determine if the main villain is a traitor. But, I could use it to figure out whether the characters reach a location right after a major incident unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also works to make players feel invested and cultivate the impression that the adventure is alive, evolving in reaction to their decisions immediately. It combats the sense that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby strengthening the collaborative aspect of roleplaying.

Randomization has long been embedded in the core of D&D. Early editions were filled with charts, which fit a game focused on exploration. Even though contemporary D&D often focuses on narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the only path.

Striking the Sweet Spot

It is perfectly nothing wrong with thorough preparation. However, there is also no problem with stepping back and permitting the dice to decide some things instead of you. Authority is a significant factor in a DM's job. We require it to facilitate play, yet we often struggle to cede it, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

My final advice is this: Have no fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Try a little improvisation for smaller story elements. You might just discover that the unexpected outcome is infinitely more rewarding than anything you would have scripted in advance.