Luck Rolls in D&D Can Help You Be a Better DM

When I am a game master, I usually avoided heavy use of randomization during my Dungeons & Dragons sessions. My preference was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by character actions as opposed to the roll of a die. That said, I opted to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Watching an Improvised Tool

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who frequently calls for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. This involves choosing a specific dice and defining consequences tied to the number. While it's at its core no different from consulting a pre-generated chart, these are devised on the spot when a course of events doesn't have a clear resolution.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, primarily because it looked interesting and presented a break from my normal practice. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial tension between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Powerful In-Game Example

At a session, my party had survived a city-wide conflict. Later, a player asked about two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had lived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both would perish; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they both lived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a deeply poignant moment where the characters found the bodies of their allies, still united in their final moments. The party conducted last rites, which was especially significant due to earlier character interactions. As a parting touch, I improvised that the forms were miraculously restored, containing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group required to address another pressing situation. You simply orchestrate this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This incident made me wonder if randomization and making it up are truly the core of this game. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Groups frequently excel at derailing the best constructed plots. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to think quickly and fabricate content in real-time.

Employing similar mechanics is a excellent way to train these skills without going completely outside your comfort zone. The trick is to apply them for low-stakes situations that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. To illustrate, I would avoid using it to establish if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I could use it to figure out whether the party reach a location right after a critical event occurs.

Empowering Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also serves to keep players engaged and create the feeling that the game world is dynamic, shaping based on their choices immediately. It prevents the sense that they are merely pawns in a pre-written narrative, thereby strengthening the cooperative nature of the game.

Randomization has long been part of the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on encounter generators, which fit a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. Although current D&D frequently focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the required method.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no issue with thorough preparation. Yet, there is also no issue with stepping back and permitting the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Control is a major part of a DM's role. We use it to run the game, yet we often struggle to cede it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

The core recommendation is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Experiment with a little improvisation for smaller details. The result could create that the surprising result is significantly more powerful than anything you would have pre-written by yourself.