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When I am a game master, I historically shied away from extensive use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying games. My preference was for the plot and what happened in a game to be shaped by player choice instead of random chance. That said, I opted to change my approach, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Inspiration: Watching a Custom Mechanic

An influential streamed game features a DM who regularly asks for "fate rolls" from the adventurers. This involves selecting a specific dice and defining possible results based on the result. While it's fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created spontaneously when a course of events lacks a predetermined outcome.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own session, mainly because it appeared interesting and offered a departure from my standard routine. The results were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated dynamic between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional Session Moment

In a recent session, my party had just emerged from a large-scale battle. When the dust settled, a cleric character asked about two key NPCs—a brother and sister—had made it. Rather than choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

The die came up a 4. This resulted in a profoundly poignant sequence where the party discovered the corpses of their friends, still holding hands in death. The cleric conducted last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to previous character interactions. In a concluding touch, I decided that the remains were strangely restored, revealing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was precisely what the party required to solve another critical quest obstacle. It's impossible to script these kinds of serendipitous moments.

Honing Your Improvisation

This event led me to ponder if chance and thinking on your feet are truly the essence of D&D. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Players frequently find joy in ignoring the best constructed plans. Therefore, a skilled DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate details in the moment.

Using similar mechanics is a fantastic way to develop these abilities without venturing too far outside your preparation. The key is to apply them for minor decisions that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. As an example, I would avoid using it to decide if the king's advisor is a secret enemy. However, I might use it to decide if the characters arrive right after a critical event occurs.

Empowering Shared Narrative

This technique also helps keep players engaged and create the feeling that the story is alive, progressing based on their actions in real-time. It reduces the perception that they are merely pawns in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the shared foundation of the game.

This philosophy has historically been part of the game's DNA. The game's roots were filled with encounter generators, which fit a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although contemporary D&D often focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, that may not be the required method.

Achieving the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with being prepared. But, there is also no problem with stepping back and letting the dice to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Authority is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, even when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of recommendation is this: Do not fear of temporarily losing control. Embrace a little chance for inconsequential outcomes. You might just discover that the unexpected outcome is far more rewarding than anything you might have scripted in advance.