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In my role as a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided extensive use of randomization during my Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I preferred was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by character actions rather than random chance. Recently, I opted to try something different, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing an Improvised Tool

A popular actual-play show showcases a DM who regularly requests "chance rolls" from the adventurers. This involves picking a polyhedral and assigning potential outcomes contingent on the roll. It's essentially no unlike consulting a random table, these are devised in the moment when a player's action lacks a clear resolution.

I decided to try this method at my own session, mostly because it looked novel and provided a break from my normal practice. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated balance between pre-determination and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable Story Beat

At a session, my players had survived a massive fight. Later, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. Rather than choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a incredibly emotional sequence where the party discovered the remains of their friends, forever holding hands in death. The group held funeral rites, which was especially powerful due to previous roleplaying. As a parting reward, I chose that the remains were strangely transformed, showing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's magical effect was perfectly what the group required to address another major story problem. You simply plan this type of magical moments.

Honing Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if randomization and thinking on your feet are in fact the essence of this game. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt can rust. Adventurers frequently find joy in upending the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and fabricate content in the moment.

Utilizing luck rolls is a excellent way to train these abilities without straying too much outside your usual style. The key is to use them for low-stakes decisions that have a limited impact on the session's primary direction. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to establish if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I might use it to figure out whether the party reach a location just in time to see a key action occurs.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

This technique also works to maintain tension and cultivate the impression that the story is dynamic, progressing according to their choices immediately. It reduces the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby enhancing the shared nature of the game.

This philosophy has long been integral to the original design. Early editions were enamored with encounter generators, which made sense for a game focused on treasure hunting. Even though contemporary D&D frequently focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the required method.

Striking the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely no problem with doing your prep. However, it's also fine nothing wrong with stepping back and letting the rolls to guide minor details in place of you. Direction is a major factor in a DM's responsibilities. We need it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, even when doing so might improve the game.

My final advice is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of control. Try a little chance for smaller details. The result could find that the unexpected outcome is far more memorable than anything you would have pre-written on your own.