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In my role as a DM, I historically steered clear of heavy use of randomization during my D&D adventures. I preferred was for the plot and what happened in a game to be determined by player choice instead of pure luck. However, I opted to change my approach, and I'm truly pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Watching a Custom Mechanic

A well-known actual-play show features a DM who often calls for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. This involves choosing a polyhedral and outlining consequences tied to the number. It's fundamentally no distinct from consulting a pre-generated chart, these are created on the spot when a player's action lacks a predetermined conclusion.

I decided to try this approach at my own table, mostly because it appeared engaging and provided a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reconsider the often-debated tension between pre-determination and improvisation in a tabletop session.

A Powerful Session Moment

At a session, my group had concluded a massive fight. When the dust settled, a player asked about two key NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. Instead of picking a fate, 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 died; a middling roll, only one would die; on a 10+, they both lived.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a incredibly moving moment where the party found the remains of their friends, still holding hands in their final moments. The group conducted funeral rites, which was particularly significant due to earlier story developments. As a parting gesture, I decided that the remains were suddenly restored, containing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the item's contained spell was precisely what the group required to resolve another pressing situation. It's impossible to script these kinds of perfect coincidences.

Improving DM Agility

This incident led me to ponder if improvisation and spontaneity are in fact the core of tabletop RPGs. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Groups reliably take delight in ignoring the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and invent scenarios in real-time.

Using on-the-spot randomization is a great way to practice these skills without straying too much outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to use them for small-scale situations that have a limited impact on the session's primary direction. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. Instead, I would consider using it to decide if the PCs arrive right after a critical event takes place.

Enhancing Player Agency

Luck rolls also helps make players feel invested and create the impression that the adventure is alive, evolving in reaction to their choices immediately. It reduces the feeling that they are merely characters in a DM's sole script, thereby enhancing the shared aspect of roleplaying.

This approach has always been embedded in the original design. Early editions were enamored with charts, which suited a game focused on exploration. While current D&D often prioritizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

There is absolutely no problem with thorough preparation. However, equally valid no problem with stepping back and allowing the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's role. We need it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, even when doing so could be beneficial.

The core suggestion is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing control. Try a little chance for smaller outcomes. The result could find that the unexpected outcome is infinitely more powerful than anything you could have pre-written in advance.