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In my role as a game master, I usually steered clear of heavy use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying games. My preference was for the plot and session development to be shaped by character actions rather than pure luck. Recently, I opted to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Seeing an Improvised Tool

An influential actual-play show showcases a DM who frequently calls for "luck rolls" from the players. This involves choosing a type of die and defining potential outcomes tied to the number. While it's essentially no different from using a random table, these are created on the spot when a course of events doesn't have a obvious resolution.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, mainly because it looked engaging and offered a departure from my standard routine. The experience were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the perennial balance between pre-determination and improvisation in a tabletop session.

An Emotional Story Beat

In a recent session, my players had survived a city-wide battle. Later, a cleric character asked about two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Rather than choosing an outcome, 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 died; on a 5-9, only one would die; a high roll, they both lived.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a profoundly poignant sequence where the characters discovered the bodies of their companions, still clasped together in death. The cleric held funeral rites, which was uniquely powerful due to previous character interactions. As a parting reward, I improvised that the remains were suddenly transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the item's magical effect was precisely what the group required to resolve another critical quest obstacle. It's impossible to script this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event caused me to question if chance and making it up are in fact the essence of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players often find joy in ignoring the best constructed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios in real-time.

Using luck rolls is a great way to practice these skills without straying too much outside your preparation. The strategy is to deploy them for small-scale circumstances that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. Instead, I would consider using it to determine if the party reach a location right after a key action unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also works to maintain tension and cultivate the sensation that the game world is responsive, shaping based on their decisions immediately. It reduces the perception that they are merely actors in a DM's sole script, thereby enhancing the collaborative foundation of storytelling.

This approach has long been embedded in the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on encounter generators, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. Although contemporary D&D frequently focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the best approach.

Finding the Right Balance

It is perfectly nothing wrong with being prepared. Yet, equally valid no issue with letting go and allowing the whim of chance to guide minor details instead of you. Direction is a major factor in a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we often struggle to release it, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Have no fear of temporarily losing your plan. Embrace a little improvisation for minor details. The result could create that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you might have pre-written by yourself.