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As a DM, I historically avoided heavy use of chance during my D&D sessions. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be shaped by player choice instead of pure luck. Recently, I chose to change my approach, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Spark: Watching a Custom Mechanic

An influential streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly calls for "fate rolls" from the players. The process entails picking a type of die and assigning consequences based on the roll. It's at its core no unlike rolling on a random table, these are devised spontaneously when a character's decision lacks a predetermined conclusion.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own game, mostly because it looked interesting and provided a break from my standard routine. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial tension between preparation and improvisation in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Story Beat

At a session, my players had just emerged from a massive fight. Later, a cleric character inquired after two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had lived. Rather than picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The stakes were: on a 1-4, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a deeply emotional scene where the adventurers discovered the remains of their allies, forever clasped together in death. The group conducted last rites, which was especially meaningful due to earlier story developments. As a parting touch, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously transformed, revealing a spell-storing object. By chance, the item's magical effect was precisely what the party required to resolve another critical story problem. You simply plan such serendipitous story beats.

Sharpening On-the-Spot Skills

This experience led me to ponder if chance and spontaneity are truly the essence of D&D. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Players frequently find joy in ignoring the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a good DM must be able to think quickly and invent content in the moment.

Employing luck rolls is a excellent way to train these abilities without going completely outside your usual style. The key is to use them for minor decisions that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. As an example, I wouldn't use it to establish if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. But, I would consider using it to figure out if the party arrive just in time to see a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

This technique also helps keep players engaged and foster the impression that the adventure is responsive, evolving in reaction to their choices immediately. It reduces the sense that they are merely actors in a pre-written script, thereby bolstering the cooperative aspect of the game.

This approach has always been embedded in the original design. Early editions were reliant on encounter generators, which fit a game focused on exploration. Although contemporary D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Right Balance

There is absolutely no issue with being prepared. But, there is also no issue with stepping back and letting the dice to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Direction is a big part of a DM's role. We require it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, even when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of advice is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of your plan. Experiment with a little chance for minor details. The result could discover that the unexpected outcome is infinitely more powerful than anything you might have pre-written by yourself.