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When I am a game master, I usually shied away from extensive use of chance during my tabletop roleplaying games. I tended was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice as opposed to random chance. Recently, I chose to change my approach, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Inspiration: Observing a Custom Mechanic

A popular streamed game showcases a DM who regularly calls for "chance rolls" from the participants. This involves choosing a type of die and outlining potential outcomes based on the roll. This is fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a random table, these are created on the spot when a player's action has no clear resolution.

I decided to try this method at my own game, mostly because it appeared engaging and provided a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing balance between planning and improvisation in a tabletop session.

A Powerful In-Game Example

In a recent session, my party had concluded a city-wide battle. When the dust settled, a cleric character wondered if two beloved NPCs—a pair—had survived. In place of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; on a 10+, they survived.

Fate decreed a 4. This led to a profoundly poignant scene where the party came upon the corpses of their companions, forever united in death. The group held funeral rites, which was especially meaningful due to previous character interactions. In a concluding gesture, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were miraculously restored, showing a magical Prayer Bead. By chance, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the group lacked to address another pressing story problem. It's impossible to script such perfect story beats.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This experience caused me to question if chance and spontaneity are truly the beating heart of D&D. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Groups often excel at ignoring the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a good DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create scenarios in real-time.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a great way to practice these skills without venturing too far outside your preparation. The trick is to deploy them for low-stakes situations that have a limited impact on the overarching story. To illustrate, I wouldn't use it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. Instead, I might use it to decide if the party reach a location just in time to see a key action takes place.

Empowering Collaborative Storytelling

This technique also serves to maintain tension and create the impression that the adventure is dynamic, evolving based on their choices in real-time. It combats the sense that they are merely characters in a rigidly planned script, thereby strengthening the shared aspect of roleplaying.

This approach has always been embedded in the game's DNA. Early editions were reliant on random tables, which fit a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though modern D&D often emphasizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, this isn't always the best approach.

Striking the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no issue with doing your prep. Yet, there is also nothing wrong with letting go and letting the dice to guide minor details instead of you. Authority is a significant aspect of a DM's role. We need it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

My final suggestion is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Embrace a little chance for smaller outcomes. You might just discover that the organic story beat is infinitely more powerful than anything you might have pre-written by yourself.