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As a DM, I historically shied away from significant use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying games. My preference was for narrative flow and session development to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than random chance. However, I chose to try something different, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known streamed game utilizes a DM who frequently calls for "fate rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a type of die and assigning possible results tied to the roll. It's essentially no distinct from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are devised in the moment when a course of events doesn't have a clear outcome.

I decided to try this approach at my own session, mostly because it seemed novel and presented a change from my standard routine. The results were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing dynamic between planning and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Memorable In-Game Example

At a session, my players had survived a city-wide conflict. Later, a cleric character asked about two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had survived. Rather than picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: a low roll, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a deeply emotional scene where the party found the corpses of their companions, forever united in their final moments. The party held funeral rites, which was uniquely powerful due to prior character interactions. In a concluding gesture, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the item's magical effect was exactly what the party needed to solve another critical story problem. You simply plan such serendipitous moments.

Honing DM Agility

This event caused me to question if improvisation and spontaneity are actually the beating heart of D&D. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Players reliably find joy in ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to pivot effectively and create details in real-time.

Employing on-the-spot randomization is a great way to develop these talents without going completely outside your usual style. The key is to use them for low-stakes situations that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. As an example, I would not employ it to decide if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I could use it to figure out if the party arrive moments before a critical event unfolds.

Strengthening Player Agency

Spontaneous randomization also works to maintain tension and foster the feeling that the story is alive, shaping in reaction to their actions as they play. It combats the sense that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby enhancing the collaborative aspect of storytelling.

Randomization has historically been integral to the game's DNA. Early editions were enamored with random tables, which fit a game focused on treasure hunting. Although current D&D frequently prioritizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Right Balance

There is absolutely no issue with thorough preparation. Yet, there is also no issue with stepping back and allowing the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Authority is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We use it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

The core recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of temporarily losing control. Try a little chance for smaller outcomes. You might just create that the unexpected outcome is far more powerful than anything you could have planned by yourself.