Chance Rolls in Dungeons & Dragons May Assist You Become a More Effective DM

When I am a game master, I traditionally steered clear of extensive use of luck during my tabletop roleplaying games. My preference was for the plot and session development to be shaped by player choice as opposed to random chance. That said, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Spark: Observing an Improvised Tool

A popular actual-play show utilizes a DM who frequently calls for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by picking a type of die and defining consequences tied to the roll. This is essentially no distinct from using a random table, these are created spontaneously when a character's decision has no clear conclusion.

I opted to test this technique at my own table, primarily because it appeared novel and presented a change from my normal practice. The outcome were fantastic, prompting me to reflect on the ongoing balance between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional Story Beat

In a recent session, my party had concluded a massive conflict. Later, a player asked about two friendly NPCs—a pair—had lived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I asked for a roll. I asked the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both died; a middling roll, only one would die; a high roll, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a incredibly emotional moment where the characters discovered the corpses of their friends, still holding hands in death. The cleric held last rites, which was particularly meaningful due to earlier story developments. In a concluding touch, I decided that the remains were miraculously transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the bead's contained spell was perfectly what the group required to resolve another pressing story problem. One just orchestrate this type of serendipitous coincidences.

Improving Your Improvisation

This experience caused me to question if chance and thinking on your feet are truly the essence of this game. Although you are a detail-oriented DM, your skill to pivot may atrophy. Groups frequently excel at ignoring the most detailed plots. Therefore, a skilled DM needs to be able to think quickly and fabricate scenarios in real-time.

Employing similar mechanics is a fantastic way to practice these abilities without going completely outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to deploy them for small-scale situations that don't fundamentally change the campaign's main plot. As an example, I would not employ it to determine if the king's advisor is a traitor. However, I could use it to figure out if the characters reach a location right after a critical event takes place.

Empowering Player Agency

This technique also serves to make players feel invested and create the sensation that the game world is responsive, evolving based on their decisions as they play. It prevents the sense that they are merely actors in a rigidly planned narrative, thereby enhancing the shared nature of storytelling.

This approach has historically been integral to the core of D&D. The game's roots were enamored with encounter generators, which made sense for a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though contemporary D&D tends to emphasizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, that may not be the only path.

Striking the Right Balance

Absolutely nothing wrong with thorough preparation. Yet, equally valid nothing wrong with letting go and allowing the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Control is a major part of a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, in situations where doing so can lead to great moments.

The core recommendation is this: Don't be afraid of temporarily losing your plan. Experiment with a little randomness for minor story elements. It may find that the surprising result is far more rewarding than anything you could have scripted on your own.