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In my role as a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided heavy use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons sessions. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be shaped by deliberate decisions instead of random chance. Recently, I opted to try something different, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Inspiration: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly requests "fate rolls" from the players. This involves selecting a type of die and defining potential outcomes based on the number. While it's at its core no different from consulting a random table, these get invented on the spot when a course of events doesn't have a predetermined resolution.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own table, mostly because it seemed interesting and provided a break from my usual habits. The experience were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the often-debated balance between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable In-Game Example

During one session, my players had concluded a massive battle. Later, a cleric character inquired after two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. Instead of deciding myself, I asked for a roll. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; a high roll, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a incredibly emotional moment where the party discovered the corpses of their allies, forever clasped together in death. The group performed last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to previous character interactions. As a parting reward, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously transformed, containing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was exactly what the group needed to address another major situation. One just plan this type of magical moments.

Sharpening DM Agility

This event made me wonder if improvisation and spontaneity are in fact the beating heart of this game. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your improvisation muscles may atrophy. Adventurers often excel at ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a good DM must be able to pivot effectively and invent scenarios on the fly.

Employing luck rolls is a fantastic way to practice these abilities without venturing too far outside your preparation. The trick is to deploy them for minor circumstances that won't drastically alter the campaign's main plot. As an example, I wouldn't use it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I might use it to decide if the characters arrive moments before a major incident unfolds.

Enhancing Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also works to make players feel invested and create the sensation that the adventure is alive, progressing based on their actions immediately. It combats the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the collaborative nature of the game.

This philosophy has historically been embedded in the core of D&D. Early editions were reliant on charts, which suited a game focused on exploration. While modern D&D tends to focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, this isn't always the required method.

Striking the Right Balance

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing your prep. Yet, equally valid no problem with letting go and letting the rolls to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Control is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to manage the world, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

A piece of recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of control. Experiment with a little randomness for inconsequential story elements. It may create that the organic story beat is infinitely more memorable than anything you would have pre-written by yourself.