🔗 Share this article

In my role as a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided extensive use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I preferred was for narrative flow and what happened in a game to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than the roll of a die. That said, I opted to change my approach, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Observing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular podcast showcases a DM who often asks for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. This involves choosing a polyhedral and defining consequences tied to the result. It's essentially no distinct from consulting a pre-generated chart, these are created in the moment when a character's decision doesn't have a predetermined outcome.

I opted to test this approach at my own session, mainly because it appeared novel and provided a break from my usual habits. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing balance between pre-determination and randomization in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable In-Game Example

At a session, my party had concluded a massive fight. Later, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had lived. In place of choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: a low roll, both were killed; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

Fate decreed a 4. This triggered a deeply moving moment where the adventurers discovered the corpses of their allies, still united in death. The cleric conducted last rites, which was uniquely meaningful due to previous story developments. In a concluding gesture, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly restored, showing a enchanted item. By chance, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the group needed to address another critical situation. It's impossible to script such magical coincidences.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event caused me to question if randomization and making it up are actually the essence of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players frequently take delight in upending the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to think quickly and create content on the fly.

Utilizing on-the-spot randomization is a excellent way to develop these skills without going completely outside your usual style. The strategy is to deploy them for small-scale situations that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. For instance, I would avoid using it to determine if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. However, I would consider using it to decide if the characters reach a location right after a key action takes place.

Strengthening Player Agency

Luck rolls also helps maintain tension and foster the sensation that the adventure is responsive, evolving according to their choices immediately. It prevents the sense that they are merely actors in a pre-written narrative, thereby enhancing the collaborative foundation of roleplaying.

This philosophy has long been integral to the original design. Early editions were reliant on encounter generators, which fit a playstyle focused on dungeon crawling. While current D&D tends to focuses on narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the required method.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no issue with thorough preparation. However, there is also no issue with stepping back and allowing the rolls to decide some things rather than you. Authority is a significant factor in a DM's responsibilities. We require it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, at times when doing so can lead to great moments.

The core advice is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of your plan. Experiment with a little chance for minor story elements. You might just find that the unexpected outcome is significantly more powerful than anything you would have pre-written by yourself.