🔗 Share this article

As a Dungeon Master, I usually steered clear of extensive use of luck during my D&D games. I tended was for story direction and what happened in a game to be guided by deliberate decisions instead of the roll of a die. Recently, I decided to try something different, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Inspiration: Seeing 'Luck Rolls'

A popular podcast showcases a DM who frequently calls for "fate rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by picking a polyhedral and defining potential outcomes tied to the number. This is at its core no different from consulting a pre-generated chart, these are created in the moment when a course of events lacks a obvious outcome.

I chose to experiment with this approach at my own table, primarily because it seemed interesting and presented a break from my usual habits. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the ongoing balance between pre-determination and spontaneity in a roleplaying game.

A Memorable In-Game Example

In a recent session, my group had survived a massive fight. Later, a cleric character asked about two key NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. In place of choosing an outcome, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both were killed; on a 5-9, only one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly poignant scene where the characters found the corpses of their companions, forever united in their final moments. The group conducted a ceremony, which was uniquely meaningful due to earlier character interactions. In a concluding reward, I decided that the forms were strangely restored, showing a enchanted item. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the party required to solve another major situation. It's impossible to plan these kinds of perfect story beats.

Sharpening DM Agility

This incident caused me to question if randomization and spontaneity are in fact the core of this game. Even if you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt can rust. Adventurers frequently take delight in ignoring the most detailed plots. Therefore, a good DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate scenarios in the moment.

Utilizing luck rolls is a excellent way to develop these skills without going completely outside your comfort zone. The trick is to apply them for small-scale 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. Instead, I could use it to decide whether the PCs reach a location just in time to see a major incident unfolds.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Spontaneous randomization also serves to maintain tension and cultivate the impression that the game world is dynamic, shaping based on their actions as they play. It prevents the feeling that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby strengthening the shared foundation of roleplaying.

Randomization has historically been part of the original design. The game's roots were reliant on random tables, which fit a playstyle focused on exploration. Although contemporary D&D frequently focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no problem with doing your prep. But, it's also fine no issue with letting go and allowing the dice to guide minor details in place of you. Authority is a big aspect of a DM's job. We use it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to release it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

My final advice is this: Don't be afraid of temporarily losing control. Try a little chance for minor details. The result could find that the organic story beat is far more rewarding than anything you could have planned by yourself.