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When I am a game master, I usually avoided extensive use of luck during my Dungeons & Dragons adventures. I preferred was for the plot and session development to be determined by player choice rather than the roll of a die. However, I chose to try something different, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Spark: Seeing an Improvised Tool

A popular actual-play show showcases a DM who regularly asks for "fate rolls" from the adventurers. The process entails choosing a type of die and defining potential outcomes tied to the roll. This is fundamentally no distinct from consulting a pre-generated chart, these get invented on the spot when a player's action has no predetermined resolution.

I opted to test this approach at my own session, mostly because it appeared novel and presented a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between pre-determination and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

At a session, my party had concluded a massive conflict. Afterwards, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. In place of picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a incredibly poignant scene where the party came upon the corpses of their allies, forever clasped together in death. The cleric held a ceremony, which was uniquely powerful due to previous roleplaying. As a parting reward, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the bead's contained spell was exactly what the party lacked to address another major story problem. One just script these kinds of perfect coincidences.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This incident led me to ponder if chance and thinking on your feet are truly the beating heart of this game. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles may atrophy. Groups frequently take delight in ignoring the best constructed plans. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to think quickly and fabricate details in real-time.

Employing similar mechanics is a excellent way to practice these skills without straying too much outside your usual style. The strategy is to use them for minor situations that have a limited impact on the campaign's main plot. As an example, I wouldn't use it to decide if the king's advisor is a traitor. But, I could use it to determine whether the PCs enter a room just in time to see a major incident takes place.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

Luck rolls also serves to keep players engaged and cultivate the feeling that the story is responsive, evolving based on their actions in real-time. It prevents the feeling that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned script, thereby strengthening the shared aspect of the game.

This philosophy has always been integral to the core of D&D. Early editions were filled with random tables, which suited a game focused on exploration. While current D&D tends to focuses on story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the best approach.

Finding the Right Balance

It is perfectly no issue with thorough preparation. Yet, there is also no problem with stepping back and permitting the dice to decide some things in place of you. Direction is a significant factor in a DM's role. We require it to manage the world, yet we can be reluctant to cede it, at times when doing so might improve the game.

My final recommendation is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Experiment with a little randomness for inconsequential story elements. It may create that the organic story beat is far more rewarding than anything you would have scripted on your own.