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When I am a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided significant use of chance during my D&D games. My preference was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be determined by deliberate decisions rather than the roll of a die. That said, I chose to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Catalyst: Observing a Custom Mechanic

An influential streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly asks for "fate rolls" from the players. The process entails choosing a type of die and outlining possible results based on the result. It's fundamentally no different from using a random table, these are created on the spot when a player's action doesn't have a obvious outcome.

I decided to try this method at my own table, mostly because it looked novel and provided a change from my standard routine. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to reconsider the perennial balance between preparation and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

An Emotional In-Game Example

In a recent session, my players had survived a massive fight. Afterwards, a cleric character asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. Rather than choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: on a 1-4, both died; on a 5-9, only one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a deeply moving scene where the characters came upon the corpses of their friends, forever united in death. The party conducted funeral rites, which was especially powerful due to earlier character interactions. As a parting touch, I decided that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly restored, revealing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was exactly what the party lacked to address another major story problem. You simply plan such serendipitous story beats.

Sharpening Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are actually the essence of tabletop RPGs. Although you are a prep-heavy DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Adventurers often excel at ignoring the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and invent scenarios in the moment.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a great way to train these talents without going completely outside your usual style. The key is to apply them for minor decisions that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the main villain is a secret enemy. But, I could use it to figure out if the party enter a room moments before a critical event takes place.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Luck rolls also works to maintain tension and foster the sensation that the story is alive, evolving according to their decisions as they play. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a DM's sole narrative, thereby bolstering the shared foundation of storytelling.

This philosophy has historically been embedded in the original design. Original D&D were reliant on random tables, which suited a playstyle focused on exploration. While modern D&D frequently focuses on narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

There is absolutely no issue with being prepared. Yet, it's also fine nothing wrong with relinquishing control and permitting the rolls to guide minor details instead of you. Authority is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We use it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of your plan. Try a little randomness for smaller details. The result could discover that the organic story beat is significantly more memorable than anything you would have planned in advance.