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When I am a DM, I historically shied away from heavy use of chance during my D&D games. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be shaped by player choice as opposed to pure luck. However, I opted to alter my method, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who frequently asks for "luck rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by selecting a polyhedral and outlining consequences tied to the roll. While it's fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a random table, these are created on the spot when a character's decision lacks a clear conclusion.

I opted to test this technique at my own table, mostly because it looked interesting and provided a change from my normal practice. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing balance between planning and spontaneity in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful In-Game Example

In a recent session, my party had concluded a large-scale battle. Later, a player asked about two key NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Rather than deciding myself, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This triggered a deeply moving scene where the party found the bodies of their allies, still united in death. The cleric conducted a ceremony, which was particularly significant due to previous character interactions. In a concluding touch, I decided that the remains were strangely restored, showing a spell-storing object. I randomized, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the group needed to address another pressing quest obstacle. One just script such magical coincidences.

Honing On-the-Spot Skills

This event made me wonder if improvisation and making it up are actually the core of D&D. Although you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot may atrophy. Groups reliably find joy in upending the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a effective DM must be able to think quickly and create scenarios on the fly.

Utilizing luck rolls is a great way to practice these abilities without going completely outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to deploy them for low-stakes situations that won't drastically alter the overarching story. For instance, I would avoid using it to decide if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I might use it to determine if the PCs arrive just in time to see a critical event occurs.

Enhancing Player Agency

Luck rolls also helps make players feel invested and foster the sensation that the game world is responsive, evolving according to their actions immediately. It combats the sense that they are merely characters in a pre-written story, thereby strengthening the collaborative aspect of storytelling.

This philosophy has always been embedded in the game's DNA. Original D&D were filled with charts, which made sense for a game focused on treasure hunting. Even though contemporary D&D often emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no problem with doing your prep. Yet, there is also nothing wrong with stepping back and letting the dice to decide some things in place of you. Control is a big factor in a DM's responsibilities. We need it to manage the world, yet we often struggle to give some up, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

The core recommendation is this: Have no fear of relinquishing a bit of control. Embrace a little improvisation for inconsequential story elements. The result could discover that the organic story beat is infinitely more memorable than anything you would have planned in advance.