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In my role as a game master, I usually steered clear of extensive use of chance during my D&D sessions. I preferred was for story direction and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice rather than the roll of a die. However, I chose to try something different, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Watching an Improvised Tool

An influential streamed game utilizes a DM who often requests "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by choosing a polyhedral and defining consequences tied to the roll. While it's fundamentally no different from consulting a pre-generated chart, these get invented spontaneously when a character's decision has no predetermined resolution.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own session, mainly because it looked engaging and provided a break from my normal practice. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between pre-determination and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Memorable Session Moment

At a session, my group had concluded a large-scale conflict. When the dust settled, a player asked about two beloved NPCs—a pair—had lived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, a single one would die; on a 10+, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a deeply moving sequence where the party found the corpses of their companions, forever holding hands in death. The party held a ceremony, which was particularly meaningful due to previous roleplaying. In a concluding touch, I improvised that the forms were suddenly transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the item's magical effect was perfectly what the party lacked to solve another pressing story problem. You simply plan such serendipitous moments.

Improving DM Agility

This experience made me wonder if improvisation and spontaneity are truly the essence of tabletop RPGs. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt can rust. Groups frequently find joy in derailing the best constructed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate content in real-time.

Utilizing on-the-spot randomization is a great way to practice these abilities without venturing too far outside your preparation. The key is to use them for minor decisions that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would not employ it to establish if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. Instead, I would consider using it to decide if the party arrive moments before a critical event occurs.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also serves to maintain tension and create the feeling that the game world is responsive, evolving according to their choices as they play. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby enhancing the collaborative nature of the game.

This philosophy has long been integral to the game's DNA. Original D&D were reliant on random tables, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. While current D&D often prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the best approach.

Striking the Right Balance

There is absolutely no problem with thorough preparation. However, it's also fine no issue with stepping back and permitting the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Control is a significant factor in a DM's job. We require it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Have no fear of temporarily losing the reins. Try a little improvisation for minor outcomes. You might just create that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you might have pre-written by yourself.