🔗 Share this article

When I am a game master, I historically shied away from heavy use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. I preferred was for story direction and session development to be shaped by character actions rather than the roll of a die. That said, I chose to alter my method, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who frequently calls for "luck rolls" from the players. He does this by selecting a type of die and assigning potential outcomes tied to the result. It's at its core no distinct from using a random table, these get invented in the moment when a character's decision doesn't have a obvious outcome.

I opted to test this technique at my own session, mainly because it looked interesting and offered a departure from my standard routine. The experience were fantastic, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial balance between preparation and randomization in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

During one session, my group had just emerged from a large-scale battle. When the dust settled, a player wondered if two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. Instead of choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both were killed; a middling roll, only one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly emotional sequence where the party found the remains of their friends, still united in their final moments. The cleric conducted funeral rites, which was particularly meaningful due to previous character interactions. As a parting gesture, I decided that the remains were miraculously transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's magical effect was perfectly what the group lacked to resolve another pressing quest obstacle. It's impossible to orchestrate these kinds of magical moments.

Honing DM Agility

This incident led me to ponder if chance and thinking on your feet are in fact the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. Although you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Adventurers often find joy in upending the best constructed plans. Therefore, a good DM must be able to pivot effectively and fabricate details on the fly.

Using luck rolls is a excellent way to develop these abilities without straying too much outside your usual style. The key is to use them for small-scale situations that have a limited impact on the overarching story. To illustrate, I would not employ it to establish if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I would consider using it to decide if the characters reach a location just in time to see a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also works to make players feel invested and cultivate the impression that the adventure is responsive, evolving based on their decisions in real-time. It prevents the perception that they are merely characters in a DM's sole story, thereby bolstering the collaborative foundation of storytelling.

This philosophy has long been part of the game's DNA. The game's roots were reliant on charts, which made sense for a game focused on exploration. While contemporary D&D tends to prioritizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the best approach.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly nothing wrong with being prepared. But, there is also nothing wrong with stepping back and letting the dice to guide minor details rather than you. Control is a major aspect of a DM's role. We need it to facilitate play, yet we often struggle to release it, even when doing so can lead to great moments.

The core recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of temporarily losing the reins. Try a little chance for inconsequential details. The result could create that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you might have scripted on your own.