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As a Dungeon Master, I historically shied away from extensive use of luck during my D&D adventures. I tended was for the plot and what happened in a game to be guided by player choice as opposed to the roll of a die. However, I decided to alter my method, and I'm very pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

An influential podcast features a DM who regularly calls for "luck rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by choosing a polyhedral and defining potential outcomes based on the number. This is at its core no distinct from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these get invented in the moment when a player's action doesn't have a clear outcome.

I decided to try this approach at my own session, primarily because it appeared engaging and presented a departure from my standard routine. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial balance between planning and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful Session Moment

In a recent session, my players had just emerged from a massive fight. When the dust settled, a player wondered if two friendly NPCs—a brother and sister—had lived. In place of deciding myself, I handed it over to chance. I asked 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; a high roll, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a deeply poignant moment where the characters discovered the bodies of their companions, still holding hands in death. The cleric performed last rites, which was particularly meaningful due to earlier story developments. As a parting reward, I chose that the remains were miraculously restored, showing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was precisely what the group lacked to resolve another critical situation. One just orchestrate this type of perfect coincidences.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This event caused me to question if randomization and spontaneity are actually the core of tabletop RPGs. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Players often find joy in upending the best constructed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to adapt swiftly and create details in real-time.

Employing luck rolls is a excellent way to practice these skills without going completely outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to deploy them for minor decisions that won't drastically alter the overarching story. As an example, I wouldn't use it to establish if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. However, I might use it to determine if the PCs reach a location moments before a major incident unfolds.

Enhancing Player Agency

This technique also helps make players feel invested and create the impression that the adventure is alive, progressing based on their choices in real-time. It reduces the perception that they are merely characters in a pre-written story, thereby strengthening the cooperative aspect of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been integral to the core of D&D. The game's roots were enamored with encounter generators, which suited a playstyle focused on exploration. While current D&D often focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Finding the Sweet Spot

Absolutely no issue with doing your prep. Yet, it's also fine no issue with relinquishing control and permitting the rolls to decide some things in place of you. Control is a major aspect of a DM's job. 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 suggestion is this: Have no fear of relinquishing a bit of your plan. Embrace a little improvisation for smaller outcomes. It may find that the unexpected outcome is significantly more memorable than anything you might have pre-written by yourself.