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When I am a DM, I historically shied away from extensive use of randomization during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. I tended was for the plot and session development to be shaped by character actions instead of the roll of a die. That said, I opted to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Inspiration: Seeing 'Luck Rolls'

A well-known streamed game utilizes a DM who frequently calls for "chance rolls" from the participants. The process entails picking a polyhedral and defining consequences contingent on the number. This is at its core no distinct from using a pre-generated chart, these get invented spontaneously when a player's action has no predetermined resolution.

I chose to experiment with this method at my own table, mainly because it appeared novel and presented a break from my standard routine. The experience were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the ongoing balance between pre-determination and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Memorable In-Game Example

During one session, my players had survived a city-wide conflict. Later, a player wondered if two key NPCs—a pair—had survived. Rather than picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one would die; on a 10+, they made it.

Fate decreed a 4. This resulted in a profoundly moving moment where the adventurers found the corpses of their allies, forever holding hands in death. The group performed a ceremony, which was uniquely meaningful due to earlier roleplaying. As a parting touch, I chose that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, revealing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's magical effect was perfectly what the group lacked to resolve another major quest obstacle. You simply plan such serendipitous coincidences.

Honing On-the-Spot Skills

This experience caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are actually the essence of this game. While you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot can rust. Groups reliably excel at derailing the most detailed plots. Therefore, a good DM needs to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate scenarios in real-time.

Utilizing on-the-spot randomization is a fantastic way to train these talents without going completely outside your usual style. The trick is to deploy them for small-scale situations that won't drastically alter the overarching story. To illustrate, I would not employ it to determine if the central plot figure is a traitor. However, I might use it to determine whether the party arrive moments before a critical event occurs.

Strengthening Shared Narrative

This technique also serves to make players feel invested and create the sensation that the adventure is alive, progressing in reaction to their actions immediately. It combats the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written script, thereby bolstering the shared aspect of the game.

This philosophy has long been part of the game's DNA. Early editions were reliant on random tables, which fit a playstyle focused on exploration. Even though current D&D tends to prioritizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the required method.

Finding the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with thorough preparation. Yet, there is also no problem with relinquishing control and letting the whim of chance to decide some things in place of you. Direction is a major aspect of a DM's role. We use it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to cede it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

The core suggestion is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of control. Try a little randomness for inconsequential outcomes. The result could create that the organic story beat is infinitely more memorable than anything you could have pre-written on your own.