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In my role as a DM, I usually avoided heavy use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be determined by character actions as opposed to the roll of a die. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

A popular podcast utilizes a DM who frequently requests "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a specific dice and outlining potential outcomes based on the number. While it's essentially no distinct from using a random table, these are devised in the moment when a course of events lacks a predetermined outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, primarily because it looked interesting and provided a break from my usual habits. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing dynamic between pre-determination and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Powerful Story Beat

In a recent session, my group had survived a large-scale fight. Later, a player asked about two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had survived. In place of choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both were killed; on a 5-9, a single one would die; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This triggered a deeply emotional scene where the party found the bodies of their friends, still holding hands in their final moments. The party performed last rites, which was particularly significant due to earlier character interactions. As a parting touch, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly restored, containing a enchanted item. I randomized, the item's contained spell was precisely what the group required to resolve another major situation. It's impossible to script such serendipitous story beats.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This incident led me to ponder if chance and spontaneity are actually the core of D&D. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Players frequently take delight in upending the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a good DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create content in the moment.

Utilizing luck rolls is a fantastic way to train these abilities without going completely outside your usual style. The trick is to use them for small-scale situations that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. As an example, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. However, I could use it to figure out if the characters arrive moments before a major incident occurs.

Empowering Shared Narrative

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and cultivate the impression that the story is dynamic, evolving according to their decisions as they play. It combats the perception that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned story, thereby bolstering the shared foundation of storytelling.

This approach has always been part of the game's DNA. Early editions were reliant on random tables, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though contemporary D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Striking the Right Balance

It is perfectly no problem with doing your prep. Yet, equally valid no issue with letting go and permitting the whim of chance to guide minor details in place of you. Control is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to manage the world, yet we often struggle to give some up, even when doing so might improve the game.

My final recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of control. Experiment with a little chance for inconsequential outcomes. You might just discover that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you would have planned in advance.