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As a Dungeon Master, I historically shied away from extensive use of luck during my D&D sessions. I tended was for narrative flow and session development to be guided by deliberate decisions instead of random chance. Recently, I decided to change my approach, and I'm very happy with the result.

The Catalyst: Seeing a Custom Mechanic

A well-known streamed game features a DM who frequently asks for "fate rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a polyhedral and defining possible results contingent on the result. This is essentially no different from consulting a random table, these are created on the spot when a character's decision doesn't have a clear conclusion.

I decided to try this method at my own game, primarily because it appeared engaging and presented a departure from my normal practice. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the often-debated balance between pre-determination and spontaneity in a tabletop session.

A Powerful In-Game Example

At a session, my group had concluded a large-scale fight. Later, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. Instead of picking a fate, 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 succumbed; a high roll, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This led to a deeply poignant sequence where the characters found the remains of their companions, still united in their final moments. The cleric conducted funeral rites, which was uniquely meaningful due to previous roleplaying. In a concluding reward, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were strangely transformed, containing a spell-storing object. I rolled for, the bead's magical effect was exactly what the group required to solve another pressing situation. One just orchestrate these kinds of perfect moments.

Improving On-the-Spot Skills

This experience made me wonder if randomization and spontaneity are in fact the core of this game. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Players reliably take delight in derailing the most detailed narratives. Therefore, a skilled DM must be able to adapt swiftly and invent scenarios in real-time.

Employing luck rolls is a great way to practice these abilities without venturing too far outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to apply them for low-stakes situations that don't fundamentally change the overarching story. To illustrate, I would avoid using it to establish if the central plot figure is a traitor. Instead, I would consider using it to determine if the PCs reach a location moments before a critical event takes place.

Enhancing Player Agency

Luck rolls also helps make players feel invested and cultivate the impression that the story is dynamic, shaping based on their actions in real-time. It reduces the sense that they are merely pawns in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the collaborative foundation of storytelling.

This approach has long been embedded in the original design. Original D&D were reliant on random tables, which fit a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though modern D&D frequently prioritizes story and character, leading many DMs to feel they require detailed plans, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Achieving the Right Balance

There is absolutely nothing wrong with thorough preparation. But, it's also fine no issue with relinquishing control and allowing the dice to guide minor details instead of you. Control is a big part of a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to give some up, even when doing so could be beneficial.

My final suggestion is this: Don't be afraid of relinquishing a bit of the reins. Try a little improvisation for minor details. You might just create that the organic story beat is significantly more rewarding than anything you might have planned on your own.