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When I am a Dungeon Master, I traditionally steered clear of extensive use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons adventures. My preference was for story direction and session development to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than pure luck. That said, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known podcast showcases a DM who often calls for "fate rolls" from the participants. This involves picking a type of die and outlining consequences tied to the result. While it's fundamentally no distinct from using a pre-generated chart, these get invented in the moment when a course of events has no predetermined conclusion.

I decided to try this method at my own session, primarily because it seemed engaging and presented a departure from my normal practice. The results were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the perennial tension between preparation and spontaneity in a D&D campaign.

A Memorable Story Beat

At a session, my party had survived a massive conflict. Later, a cleric character inquired after two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. In place of picking a fate, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, only one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly poignant scene where the adventurers discovered the corpses of their companions, forever holding hands in their final moments. The group conducted last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to earlier roleplaying. As a parting reward, I improvised that the remains were miraculously restored, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the item's contained spell was exactly what the party needed to address another pressing quest obstacle. One just orchestrate this type of perfect story beats.

Sharpening DM Agility

This event caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are actually the essence of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Groups reliably take delight in ignoring the best constructed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to think quickly and create content on the fly.

Using luck rolls is a excellent way to practice these skills without going completely outside your comfort zone. The key is to use them for small-scale circumstances that won't drastically alter the overarching story. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to establish if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. Instead, I might use it to decide whether the PCs enter a room right after a critical event takes place.

Enhancing Player Agency

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and create the sensation that the adventure is responsive, shaping according to their decisions in real-time. It reduces the feeling that they are merely pawns in a DM's sole script, thereby bolstering the shared aspect of storytelling.

Randomization has long been part of the original design. Original D&D were enamored with random tables, which fit a game focused on dungeon crawling. While modern D&D tends to emphasizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the best approach.

Striking the Healthy Equilibrium

Absolutely no issue with being prepared. But, equally valid no issue with stepping back and allowing the dice to determine certain outcomes in place of you. Control is a significant part of a DM's role. We require it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

The core suggestion is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of control. Embrace a little chance for minor story elements. You might just discover that the surprising result is significantly more rewarding than anything you could have pre-written by yourself.