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As a Dungeon Master, I historically avoided significant use of chance during my D&D sessions. My preference was for the plot and what happened in a game to be determined by player choice instead of random chance. That said, I decided to try something different, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Spark: Observing an Improvised Tool

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who often calls for "chance rolls" from the players. He does this by picking a polyhedral and assigning possible results based on the result. While it's essentially no unlike consulting a pre-generated chart, these are created in the moment when a course of events has no predetermined conclusion.

I decided to try this method at my own game, primarily because it appeared novel and presented a change from my standard routine. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between preparation and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Story Beat

During one session, my players had survived a massive battle. When the dust settled, a player asked about two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. In place of picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I told the player to roll a d20. The stakes were: a low roll, both would perish; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving sequence where the adventurers found the bodies of their companions, still united in their final moments. The cleric performed last rites, which was particularly meaningful due to earlier story developments. As a final reward, I chose that the forms were miraculously transformed, showing a enchanted item. By chance, the bead's contained spell was exactly what the party required to address another critical story problem. You simply orchestrate such serendipitous coincidences.

Sharpening DM Agility

This incident caused me to question if improvisation and making it up are in fact the essence of this game. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Players often take delight in upending the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to adapt swiftly and invent details in the moment.

Employing on-the-spot randomization is a excellent way to develop these skills without straying too much outside your usual style. The strategy is to deploy them for small-scale situations that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. For instance, I would avoid using it to determine if the main villain is a secret enemy. However, I would consider using it to figure out if the characters reach a location moments before a critical event takes place.

Empowering Shared Narrative

This technique also works to keep players engaged and foster the sensation that the adventure is alive, shaping based on their actions in real-time. It prevents the feeling that they are merely pawns in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby enhancing the collaborative aspect of storytelling.

Randomization has long been integral to the game's DNA. Early editions were filled with random tables, 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 must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the only path.

Finding the Right Balance

It is perfectly nothing wrong with being prepared. Yet, it's also fine nothing wrong with relinquishing control and permitting the rolls to determine certain outcomes instead of you. Direction is a big part of a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, even when doing so could be beneficial.

A piece of advice is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing control. Try a little improvisation for smaller details. You might just create that the surprising result is far more powerful than anything you could have pre-written on your own.