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As a game master, I usually steered clear of significant use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying adventures. I tended was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice instead of random chance. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Watching an Improvised Tool

A popular podcast showcases a DM who frequently requests "fate rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by choosing a type of die and outlining consequences contingent on the number. While it's essentially no different from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created spontaneously when a course of events lacks a clear outcome.

I decided to try this method at my own game, mostly because it looked engaging and presented a change from my normal practice. The results were fantastic, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial balance between preparation and improvisation in a D&D campaign.

An Emotional Session Moment

At a session, my group had just emerged from a large-scale conflict. When the dust settled, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a pair—had made it. Instead of picking a fate, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a profoundly moving scene where the adventurers discovered the remains of their allies, forever clasped together in death. The group conducted funeral rites, which was uniquely significant due to previous roleplaying. In a concluding reward, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly restored, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was perfectly what the group lacked to resolve another critical quest obstacle. One just plan such serendipitous moments.

Improving DM Agility

This event made me wonder if chance and making it up are truly the beating heart of D&D. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles can rust. Players often take delight in ignoring the most detailed plans. Therefore, a good DM must be able to pivot effectively and invent scenarios in the moment.

Utilizing on-the-spot randomization is a fantastic way to develop these talents without venturing too far outside your usual style. The trick is to deploy them for low-stakes situations that won't drastically alter the overarching story. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to decide if the main villain is a traitor. However, I would consider using it to decide whether the PCs arrive moments before a critical event takes place.

Empowering Player Agency

This technique also serves to keep players engaged and cultivate the impression that the adventure is responsive, progressing based on their decisions immediately. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a DM's sole narrative, thereby enhancing the cooperative nature of roleplaying.

This approach has always been integral to the original design. Original D&D were enamored with encounter generators, which suited a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. While current D&D frequently emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

There is absolutely no issue with doing your prep. However, it's also fine no issue with relinquishing control and letting the whim of chance to decide some things in place of you. Authority is a major part of a DM's job. We need it to manage the world, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, even when doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of recommendation is this: Do not fear of letting go of control. Experiment with a little improvisation for smaller outcomes. You might just create that the surprising result is significantly more memorable than anything you might have pre-written in advance.