🔗 Share this article

When I am a game master, I historically avoided significant use of chance during my Dungeons & Dragons games. I tended was for story direction and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice instead of the roll of a die. However, I chose to change my approach, and I'm incredibly happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing an Improvised Tool

An influential streamed game showcases a DM who frequently asks for "chance rolls" from the players. He does this by selecting a polyhedral and assigning potential outcomes contingent on the result. While it's essentially no different from consulting a pre-generated chart, these are created on the spot when a player's action doesn't have a predetermined resolution.

I opted to test this method at my own table, mainly because it looked interesting and offered a change from my standard routine. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the often-debated dynamic between pre-determination and randomization in a tabletop session.

A Memorable Story Beat

In a recent session, my party had survived a city-wide conflict. When the dust settled, a cleric character wondered if two key NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. Rather than deciding myself, I asked for a roll. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: on a 1-4, both would perish; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they both lived.

The die came up a 4. This led to a deeply emotional sequence where the adventurers came upon the bodies of their companions, forever clasped together in death. The group held last rites, which was especially powerful due to previous character interactions. As a final touch, I chose that the remains were miraculously restored, containing a spell-storing object. By chance, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group needed to address another critical situation. It's impossible to plan this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Improving Your Improvisation

This event led me to ponder if chance and thinking on your feet are actually the core of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Players frequently find joy in upending the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a effective DM has to be able to adapt swiftly and fabricate scenarios in real-time.

Using similar mechanics is a fantastic way to practice these talents without going completely outside your preparation. The strategy is to use them for minor decisions that have a limited impact on the overarching story. To illustrate, I would not employ it to establish if the main villain is a secret enemy. Instead, I would consider using it to figure out whether the party reach a location moments before a key action unfolds.

Strengthening Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also helps keep players engaged and create the feeling that the story is dynamic, evolving in reaction to their choices as they play. It prevents the perception that they are merely characters in a pre-written story, thereby enhancing the shared foundation of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been part of the original design. Early editions were reliant on charts, which fit a game focused on treasure hunting. While modern D&D frequently prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Achieving the Healthy Equilibrium

It is perfectly no issue with doing your prep. Yet, it's also fine no issue with letting go and allowing the rolls to guide minor details in place of you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's role. We use it to facilitate play, yet we can be reluctant to release it, in situations where doing so might improve the game.

A piece of suggestion is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of the reins. Try a little randomness for inconsequential outcomes. You might just discover that the surprising result is significantly more powerful than anything you might have planned on your own.