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When I am a DM, I traditionally avoided heavy use of randomization during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I tended was for the plot and session development to be guided by deliberate decisions rather than random chance. Recently, I opted to change my approach, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Inspiration: Seeing an Improvised Tool

A popular actual-play show features a DM who regularly asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by picking a polyhedral and outlining potential outcomes contingent on the roll. It's at its core no unlike using a random table, these get invented on the spot when a character's decision doesn't have a clear conclusion.

I chose to experiment with this technique at my own session, mainly because it appeared novel and provided a break from my standard routine. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the often-debated balance between preparation and randomization in a D&D campaign.

An Emotional Session Moment

In a recent session, my group had survived a massive battle. Afterwards, a cleric character inquired after two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had lived. Rather than choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a profoundly poignant scene where the characters found the bodies of their companions, still holding hands in their final moments. The cleric held last rites, which was uniquely powerful due to prior story developments. As a final touch, I chose that the remains were strangely restored, containing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's contained spell was exactly what the group needed to solve another critical situation. It's impossible to script such serendipitous story beats.

Sharpening On-the-Spot Skills

This incident made me wonder if improvisation and thinking on your feet are truly the essence of this game. Although you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Adventurers often find joy in ignoring the best constructed plots. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to pivot effectively and invent details in the moment.

Utilizing luck rolls is a fantastic way to train these talents without straying too much outside your usual style. The trick is to use them for minor decisions that won't drastically alter the overarching story. For instance, I would avoid using it to establish if the central plot figure is a traitor. Instead, I might use it to figure out whether the PCs reach a location right after a key action occurs.

Strengthening Player Agency

Spontaneous randomization also helps maintain tension and create the feeling that the adventure is dynamic, progressing in reaction to their actions as they play. It prevents the sense that they are merely pawns in a DM's sole script, thereby enhancing the collaborative aspect of the game.

This approach has always been part of the game's DNA. The game's roots were enamored with random tables, which made sense for a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though current D&D frequently emphasizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Achieving the Right Balance

It is perfectly no problem with thorough preparation. But, equally valid no problem with letting go and letting the rolls to guide minor details in place of you. Control is a significant part of a DM's job. We need it to manage the world, yet we often struggle to cede it, at times when doing so could be beneficial.

The core suggestion is this: Do not fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Experiment with a little chance for smaller story elements. It may create that the unexpected outcome is far more powerful than anything you would have scripted by yourself.