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When I am a Dungeon Master, I usually shied away from heavy use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying games. I preferred was for narrative flow and session development to be guided by player choice instead of the roll of a die. However, I chose to try something different, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Seeing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly requests "fate rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by picking a type of die and assigning possible results based on the number. While it's fundamentally no different from rolling on a random table, these get invented in the moment when a course of events doesn't have a clear outcome.

I opted to test this approach at my own game, mainly because it seemed engaging and provided a departure from my standard routine. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated dynamic between preparation and improvisation in a tabletop session.

A Powerful In-Game Example

During one session, my party had just emerged from a massive fight. Later, a cleric character asked about two key NPCs—a pair—had survived. Rather than deciding myself, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both died; a middling roll, a single one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving sequence where the party came upon the remains of their friends, forever united in their final moments. The group held a ceremony, which was uniquely significant due to previous roleplaying. As a final reward, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly transformed, revealing a spell-storing object. I randomized, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the party required to address another pressing situation. One just plan such serendipitous story beats.

Improving Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if randomization and making it up are actually the core of D&D. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt can rust. Adventurers frequently excel at upending the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a effective DM must be able to pivot effectively and invent details in the moment.

Utilizing luck rolls is a great way to develop these talents without straying too much outside your preparation. The strategy is to deploy them for low-stakes decisions that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. As an example, I would avoid using it to establish if the central plot figure is a traitor. But, I might use it to figure out if the PCs arrive moments before a major incident occurs.

Enhancing Collaborative Storytelling

Luck rolls also serves to maintain tension and foster the sensation that the adventure is dynamic, shaping based on their choices as they play. It combats the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby enhancing the shared foundation of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been embedded in the original design. Original D&D were enamored with random tables, which suited a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. While current D&D frequently emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the required method.

Finding the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with doing your prep. However, there is also no issue with relinquishing control and letting the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Direction is a major factor in a DM's role. We need it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

The core advice is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of the reins. Embrace a little improvisation for inconsequential outcomes. You might just discover that the organic story beat is far more rewarding than anything you could have pre-written on your own.