🔗 Share this article

In my role as a game master, I historically steered clear of heavy use of luck during my D&D games. I preferred was for story direction and session development to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than pure luck. However, 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 regularly calls for "fate rolls" from the participants. He does this by choosing a specific dice and defining possible results contingent on the roll. This is at its core no distinct from using a random table, these get invented on the spot when a character's decision has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this method at my own table, mainly because it appeared engaging and offered a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated dynamic between pre-determination and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Powerful Session Moment

During one session, my group had concluded a massive fight. When the dust settled, a cleric character asked about two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Instead of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a incredibly moving sequence where the characters discovered the bodies of their companions, forever united in their final moments. The party held last rites, which was particularly significant due to earlier roleplaying. As a final touch, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group lacked to address another pressing quest obstacle. One just plan these kinds of perfect moments.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This experience caused me to question if randomization and spontaneity are actually the essence of this game. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Groups frequently excel at ignoring the most carefully laid plots. Therefore, a effective DM has to be able to pivot effectively and invent details in the moment.

Employing similar mechanics is a great way to train these talents without going completely outside your preparation. The key is to deploy them for small-scale circumstances that have a limited impact on the overarching story. As an example, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. Instead, I would consider using it to decide if the characters enter a room right after a key action unfolds.

Empowering Shared Narrative

Spontaneous randomization also serves to maintain tension and create the sensation that the game world is responsive, progressing based on their choices immediately. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written script, thereby strengthening the collaborative aspect of the game.

Randomization has always been embedded in the original design. Early editions were enamored with charts, which fit a game focused on exploration. While modern D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the only path.

Achieving the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no problem with doing your prep. However, there is also no problem with stepping back and permitting the whim of chance to guide minor details rather than you. Direction is a big aspect of a DM's job. We require it to manage the world, yet we often struggle to cede it, even when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of suggestion is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Experiment with a little randomness for minor details. You might just create that the organic story beat is infinitely more memorable than anything you could have pre-written on your own.