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In my role as a game master, I usually shied away from extensive use of chance during my D&D adventures. My preference was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by character actions instead of pure luck. That said, I opted to try something different, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing an Improvised Tool

An influential podcast features a DM who frequently calls for "fate rolls" from the participants. This involves selecting a polyhedral and outlining possible results tied to the result. While it's essentially no distinct from rolling on a random table, these get invented in the moment when a player's action has no clear conclusion.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own table, mostly because it seemed engaging and offered a break from my usual habits. The experience were fantastic, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing tension between planning and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Story Beat

At a session, my group had just emerged from a large-scale battle. When the dust settled, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. Rather than deciding myself, I let the dice decide. I told the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving sequence where the party came upon the remains of their friends, forever united in death. The party held last rites, which was especially meaningful due to previous character interactions. As a parting touch, I improvised that the forms were strangely restored, showing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group required to resolve another pressing situation. It's impossible to orchestrate this type of serendipitous moments.

Sharpening DM Agility

This experience caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are actually the core of this game. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Groups reliably excel at ignoring the most detailed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate content in the moment.

Employing on-the-spot randomization is a fantastic way to train these abilities without going completely outside your preparation. The strategy is to deploy them for low-stakes situations that have a limited impact on the session's primary direction. As an example, I wouldn't use it to establish if the main villain is a traitor. But, I could use it to figure out if the characters arrive right after a major incident unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also works to maintain tension and create the impression that the story is dynamic, progressing according to their decisions in real-time. It combats the perception that they are merely pawns in a rigidly planned script, thereby strengthening the cooperative foundation of roleplaying.

Randomization has long been embedded in the game's DNA. Original D&D were filled with random tables, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. Although contemporary D&D tends to emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Finding the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely no problem with being prepared. However, there is also no problem with letting go and allowing the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Authority is a significant factor in a DM's role. We use it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

A piece of suggestion is this: Have no fear of letting go of the reins. Embrace a little chance for smaller story elements. You might just find that the surprising result is infinitely more rewarding than anything you could have planned by yourself.