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When I am a DM, I usually steered clear of significant use of luck during my Dungeons & Dragons sessions. My preference was for story direction and session development to be guided by player choice as opposed to pure luck. However, I chose to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Watching an Improvised Tool

An influential podcast showcases a DM who frequently calls for "fate rolls" from the participants. This involves selecting a type of die and defining potential outcomes tied to the number. While it's at its core no different from using a pre-generated chart, these get invented on the spot when a player's action has no clear outcome.

I opted to test this method at my own table, mainly because it looked interesting and provided a break from my normal practice. The experience were remarkable, prompting me to reflect on the often-debated tension between preparation and spontaneity in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable In-Game Example

At a session, my players had concluded a city-wide conflict. When the dust settled, a cleric character wondered if two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had survived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; a high roll, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This triggered a incredibly moving scene where the party came upon the remains of their friends, still united in death. The cleric performed funeral rites, which was especially meaningful due to previous story developments. As a parting gesture, I chose that the remains were strangely restored, revealing a enchanted item. By chance, the bead's magical effect was perfectly what the group lacked to address another pressing quest obstacle. It's impossible to script such serendipitous moments.

Honing On-the-Spot Skills

This event led me to ponder if randomization and spontaneity are actually the beating heart of this game. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Adventurers reliably take delight in derailing the most detailed plans. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to adapt swiftly and invent scenarios in the moment.

Employing luck rolls is a great way to develop these abilities without straying too much outside your comfort zone. The key is to use them for small-scale situations that won't drastically alter the overarching story. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the main villain is a secret enemy. But, I would consider using it to decide whether the characters reach a location right after a major incident occurs.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

This technique also works to make players feel invested and create the feeling that the adventure is responsive, evolving in reaction to their decisions immediately. It prevents the sense that they are merely actors in a DM's sole narrative, thereby bolstering the cooperative aspect of roleplaying.

This approach has always been embedded in the original design. The game's roots were filled with random tables, which fit a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though modern D&D tends to emphasizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the required method.

Striking the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no problem with doing your prep. However, there is also no issue with stepping back and allowing the whim of chance to decide some things instead of you. Control is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We require it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core recommendation is this: Have no fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Try a little improvisation for inconsequential story elements. The result could find that the organic story beat is far more powerful than anything you might have pre-written in advance.