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When I am a Dungeon Master, I traditionally steered clear of heavy use of luck during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I preferred was for narrative flow and session development to be shaped by player choice rather than random chance. Recently, I decided to change my approach, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Watching 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known actual-play show showcases a DM who frequently asks for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a polyhedral and assigning consequences tied to the roll. This is essentially no different from rolling on a random table, these are devised on the spot when a character's decision lacks a predetermined conclusion.

I decided to try this method at my own table, mostly because it seemed engaging and provided a departure from my normal practice. The experience were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing balance between pre-determination and improvisation in a tabletop session.

An Emotional Story Beat

In a recent session, my group had just emerged from a massive battle. Afterwards, a player wondered if two beloved NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. In place of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; on a 5-9, only one would die; on a 10+, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a incredibly emotional scene where the party found the bodies of their friends, still holding hands in death. The cleric conducted funeral rites, which was uniquely significant due to earlier character interactions. As a parting reward, I decided that the remains were suddenly restored, containing a enchanted item. I rolled for, the item's magical effect was perfectly what the group needed to resolve another major quest obstacle. You simply orchestrate such perfect moments.

Sharpening On-the-Spot Skills

This experience made me wonder if randomization and making it up are truly the core of D&D. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot may atrophy. Adventurers frequently find joy in derailing the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a good DM must be able to think quickly and create content in the moment.

Employing luck rolls is a fantastic way to train these talents without venturing too far outside your usual style. The trick is to apply them for minor decisions that have a limited impact on the overarching story. As an example, I would not employ it to determine if the main villain is a traitor. But, I could use it to figure out if the party arrive right after a critical event takes place.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

This technique also works to make players feel invested and foster the impression that the adventure is alive, shaping in reaction to their actions immediately. It combats the feeling that they are merely characters in a DM's sole script, thereby strengthening the cooperative aspect of the game.

This approach has long been embedded in the core of D&D. Early editions were enamored with encounter generators, which made sense for a playstyle focused on exploration. Even though modern D&D tends to emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with being prepared. But, there is also no problem with relinquishing control and permitting the whim of chance to guide minor details rather than you. Control is a major part of a DM's role. We use it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to release it, at times when doing so can lead to great moments.

A piece of advice is this: Have no fear of relinquishing a bit of control. Embrace a little improvisation for inconsequential story elements. The result could discover that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you would have scripted on your own.