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When I am a DM, I historically avoided heavy use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying games. I preferred was for story direction and session development to be shaped by character actions rather than random chance. However, I opted to alter my method, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Observing an Improvised Tool

A popular streamed game features a DM who frequently asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a type of die and assigning possible results based on the roll. It's essentially no unlike rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created in the moment when a player's action has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this technique at my own game, mostly because it seemed engaging and provided a break from my standard routine. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to reconsider the often-debated dynamic between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Session Moment

During one session, my players had just emerged from a large-scale fight. Later, a cleric character inquired after two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. In place of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; a high roll, they survived.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a profoundly poignant scene where the party discovered the bodies of their friends, forever united in death. The group conducted a ceremony, which was especially meaningful due to prior roleplaying. In a concluding touch, I decided that the remains were strangely transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the party lacked to resolve another pressing story problem. It's impossible to plan such magical coincidences.

Honing On-the-Spot Skills

This incident caused me to question if improvisation and spontaneity are in fact the essence of this game. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Adventurers often take delight in derailing the best constructed plots. Therefore, a effective DM must be able to pivot effectively and fabricate content in real-time.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to practice these talents without going completely outside your usual style. The strategy is to apply them for low-stakes decisions that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the central plot figure is a traitor. But, I could use it to determine whether the characters enter a room right after a major incident takes place.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Spontaneous randomization also works to maintain tension and foster the impression that the game world is alive, evolving based on their actions as they play. It prevents the sense that they are merely characters in a pre-written narrative, thereby bolstering the shared nature of storytelling.

This philosophy has long been embedded in the core of D&D. The game's roots were reliant on encounter generators, which fit a game focused on dungeon crawling. Even though modern D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the best approach.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no issue with doing your prep. However, equally valid no issue with relinquishing control and letting the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Authority is a significant aspect of a DM's role. We use it to facilitate play, yet we often struggle to cede it, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

The core recommendation is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Experiment with a little chance for minor story elements. The result could find that the surprising result is significantly more memorable than anything you could have planned on your own.