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As a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided extensive use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying adventures. My preference was for the plot and session development to be shaped by character actions rather than the roll of a die. Recently, I decided to change my approach, and I'm truly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Watching a Custom Mechanic

An influential actual-play show utilizes a DM who regularly asks for "fate rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by picking a type of die and assigning consequences contingent on the roll. It's fundamentally no different from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are devised spontaneously when a course of events has no predetermined conclusion.

I chose to experiment with this approach at my own session, mostly because it appeared novel and presented a change from my standard routine. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between preparation and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful In-Game Example

During one session, my group had concluded a city-wide battle. Later, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a pair—had made it. Rather than picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This triggered a incredibly poignant scene where the characters found the bodies of their allies, forever holding hands in death. The party performed last rites, which was particularly meaningful due to previous character interactions. As a parting gesture, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were strangely transformed, containing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the item's magical effect was precisely what the group lacked to address another major situation. It's impossible to orchestrate such magical coincidences.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This incident caused me to question if chance and spontaneity are actually the core of D&D. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Players frequently excel at upending the most detailed plots. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create content in the moment.

Employing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to train these abilities without going completely outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to deploy them for small-scale decisions that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a traitor. Instead, I might use it to decide if the party enter a room right after a key action takes place.

Empowering Shared Narrative

This technique also helps make players feel invested and cultivate the impression that the adventure is dynamic, evolving in reaction to their choices as they play. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby strengthening the collaborative foundation of the game.

This philosophy has long been embedded in the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on random tables, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although modern D&D frequently prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the required method.

Finding the Right Balance

Absolutely nothing wrong with thorough preparation. However, it's also fine no issue with relinquishing control and permitting the rolls to determine certain outcomes in place of you. Authority is a major factor in a DM's job. We require it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, at times when doing so might improve the game.

The core suggestion is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing your plan. Experiment with a little improvisation for inconsequential outcomes. It may find that the unexpected outcome is far more powerful than anything you would have pre-written by yourself.