🔗 Share this article

As a game master, I historically avoided significant use of chance during my D&D sessions. I tended was for narrative flow and session development to be guided by character actions as opposed to the roll of a die. That said, I decided to change my approach, and I'm truly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

An influential actual-play show utilizes a DM who frequently asks for "fate rolls" from the adventurers. This involves choosing a type of die and assigning consequences tied to the result. While it's fundamentally no distinct from consulting a random table, these are created in the moment when a player's action doesn't have a clear outcome.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own table, mostly because it seemed engaging and offered a break from my usual habits. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the ongoing dynamic between pre-determination and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful Session Moment

During one session, my players had survived a large-scale battle. Later, a player wondered if two beloved NPCs—a pair—had survived. Rather than choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, only one would die; a high roll, they both lived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a incredibly emotional scene where the characters came upon the bodies of their companions, still holding hands in death. The cleric performed last rites, which was especially powerful due to previous story developments. As a final reward, I improvised that the forms were strangely restored, showing a spell-storing object. By chance, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the party lacked to address another critical situation. One just script such perfect moments.

Improving DM Agility

This incident led me to ponder if randomization and thinking on your feet are truly the beating heart of D&D. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your improvisation muscles can rust. Players frequently find joy in ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios on the fly.

Utilizing luck rolls is a great way to develop these talents without straying too much outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to use them for low-stakes decisions that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. As an example, I wouldn't use it to decide if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I might use it to figure out whether the party arrive just in time to see a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Player Agency

Spontaneous randomization also serves to make players feel invested and create the impression that the adventure is responsive, shaping in reaction to their decisions immediately. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the shared nature of roleplaying.

This approach has historically been integral to the original design. Early editions were reliant on charts, which suited a playstyle focused on exploration. Although modern D&D tends to prioritizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the required method.

Striking the Healthy Equilibrium

There is absolutely nothing wrong with thorough preparation. However, equally valid no issue with stepping back and permitting the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Control is a significant factor in a DM's role. We need it to run the game, yet we often struggle to give some up, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of advice is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of control. Try a little chance for inconsequential outcomes. You might just create that the unexpected outcome is significantly more memorable than anything you would have pre-written on your own.