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When I am a game master, I historically avoided extensive use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. My preference was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than pure luck. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular podcast showcases a DM who frequently requests "luck rolls" from the participants. This involves choosing a polyhedral and assigning possible results tied to the result. This is fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these get invented in the moment when a course of events lacks a obvious outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own game, mainly because it looked novel and provided a break from my normal practice. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the often-debated dynamic between pre-determination and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable Story Beat

In a recent session, my players had just emerged from a massive fight. Afterwards, a player asked about two key NPCs—a pair—had lived. Instead of 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 were killed; a middling roll, only one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a incredibly moving moment where the party discovered the remains of their companions, still united in death. The party conducted last rites, which was especially meaningful due to earlier character interactions. As a parting touch, I chose that the remains were miraculously restored, containing a spell-storing object. I randomized, the item's magical effect was exactly what the group lacked to resolve another pressing quest obstacle. You simply script such serendipitous story beats.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event led me to ponder if chance and making it up are actually the essence of this game. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Players reliably take delight in ignoring the most detailed plans. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios in real-time.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a excellent way to practice these skills without going completely outside your usual style. The trick is to apply them for small-scale decisions that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would not employ it to decide if the central plot figure is a traitor. But, I would consider using it to figure out if the characters enter a room right after a critical event occurs.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Luck rolls also works to keep players engaged and create the sensation that the game world is responsive, evolving in reaction to their actions as they play. It combats the sense that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the cooperative nature of the game.

This philosophy has historically been part of the original design. The game's roots were enamored with charts, which made sense for a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. Although current D&D often focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the required method.

Striking the Right Balance

There is absolutely no issue with doing your prep. But, it's also fine no problem with letting go and allowing the whim of chance to decide some things in place of you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's job. We require it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, at times when doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of advice is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of control. Experiment with a little chance for minor outcomes. It may find that the surprising result is significantly more rewarding than anything you could have pre-written by yourself.