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When I am a game master, I historically avoided heavy use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying games. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be shaped by character actions instead of the roll of a die. However, I opted to alter my method, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Inspiration: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

A well-known podcast showcases a DM who often requests "chance rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by selecting a type of die and defining possible results based on the roll. While it's essentially no different from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are devised in the moment when a player's action has no clear resolution.

I chose to experiment with this approach at my own session, mostly because it seemed novel and provided a break from my standard routine. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

An Emotional Session Moment

At a session, my players had just emerged from a large-scale conflict. Later, a cleric character inquired after two key NPCs—a pair—had made it. Instead of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one would die; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a profoundly emotional scene where the party came upon the remains of their friends, still clasped together in their final moments. The group performed funeral rites, which was uniquely significant due to earlier character interactions. In a concluding reward, I decided that the remains were strangely restored, showing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was perfectly what the party required to solve another major quest obstacle. You simply orchestrate such perfect coincidences.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This experience made me wonder if randomization and making it up are actually the essence of tabletop RPGs. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Groups often excel at upending the most detailed plans. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios on the fly.

Using similar mechanics is a great way to practice these abilities without going completely outside your comfort zone. The key is to apply them for minor situations that won't drastically alter the overarching story. To illustrate, I would not employ it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I could use it to figure out if the party enter a room right after a major incident unfolds.

Strengthening Player Agency

Luck rolls also serves to maintain tension and foster the feeling that the adventure is dynamic, evolving according to their actions immediately. It prevents the sense that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned script, thereby bolstering the shared nature of storytelling.

This philosophy has long been embedded in the game's DNA. Original D&D were enamored with random tables, which made sense for a game focused on exploration. Although current D&D frequently emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the only path.

Striking the Sweet Spot

It is perfectly nothing wrong with thorough preparation. Yet, there is also no problem with stepping back and letting the rolls to guide minor details in place of you. Authority is a significant part of a DM's job. We need it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, even when doing so could be beneficial.

A piece of suggestion is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing the reins. Embrace a little chance for smaller outcomes. The result could find that the unexpected outcome is significantly more powerful than anything you might have scripted in advance.