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In my role as a DM, I usually shied away from heavy use of randomization during my tabletop roleplaying games. I preferred was for the plot and session development to be shaped by character actions rather than pure luck. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly calls for "luck rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by selecting a specific dice and assigning potential outcomes based on the roll. While it's essentially no distinct from rolling on a random table, these get invented spontaneously when a course of events has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this method at my own game, mainly because it seemed novel and presented a break from my usual habits. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the perennial tension between preparation and randomization in a D&D campaign.

A Powerful Story Beat

During one session, my group had just emerged from a massive battle. When the dust settled, a player wondered if two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had survived. In place of picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I asked 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 made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a incredibly poignant scene where the characters found the remains of their companions, forever clasped together in death. The party performed a ceremony, which was particularly significant due to prior character interactions. As a final gesture, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, showing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was exactly what the party needed to resolve another major quest obstacle. One just script this type of serendipitous moments.

Improving Your Improvisation

This incident made me wonder if improvisation and making it up are actually the beating heart of this game. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players reliably take delight in upending the most detailed plans. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate details in real-time.

Utilizing luck rolls is a great way to practice these skills without straying too much outside your preparation. The trick is to apply them for low-stakes circumstances that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. As an example, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. Instead, I would consider using it to decide whether the characters arrive just in time to see a critical event takes place.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

Luck rolls also serves to maintain tension and foster the feeling that the story is responsive, evolving based on their actions as they play. It prevents the perception that they are merely actors in a pre-written story, thereby strengthening the shared aspect of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been integral to the game's DNA. The game's roots were filled with encounter generators, which made sense for a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Although modern D&D frequently emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, this isn't always the only path.

Finding the Sweet Spot

It is perfectly no issue with doing your prep. But, equally valid nothing wrong with relinquishing control and letting the dice to guide minor details in place of you. Control is a significant part of a DM's job. We need it to facilitate play, yet we frequently find it hard to release it, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

A piece of advice is this: Don't be afraid of letting go of the reins. Try a little improvisation for smaller outcomes. The result could create that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you could have scripted by yourself.