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In my role as a Dungeon Master, I historically steered clear of heavy use of randomization during my tabletop roleplaying sessions. I preferred was for the plot and session development to be shaped by player choice instead of random chance. Recently, I chose to alter my method, and I'm truly happy with the result.

The Inspiration: Observing a Custom Mechanic

An influential actual-play show showcases a DM who often calls for "chance rolls" from the adventurers. This involves choosing a type of die and outlining potential outcomes based on the number. While it's fundamentally no distinct from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are created spontaneously when a character's decision doesn't have a clear outcome.

I decided to try this approach at my own game, mainly because it looked novel and provided a change from my standard routine. The experience were remarkable, prompting me to think deeply about the perennial balance between preparation and randomization in a tabletop session.

An Emotional Session Moment

In a recent session, my players had survived a large-scale fight. Later, a cleric character wondered if two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. In place of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I told the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one succumbed; a high roll, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a deeply poignant moment where the party discovered the corpses of their allies, forever holding hands in their final moments. The cleric performed funeral rites, which was especially powerful due to prior story developments. In a concluding touch, I decided that the remains were suddenly transformed, containing a spell-storing object. By chance, the item's magical effect was perfectly what the group required to address another major situation. One just script this type of serendipitous story beats.

Honing Your Improvisation

This incident caused me to question if improvisation and thinking on your feet are actually the core of tabletop RPGs. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your ability to adapt need exercise. Groups frequently take delight in upending the most carefully laid plans. Therefore, a effective DM has to be able to think quickly and invent scenarios in the moment.

Using on-the-spot randomization is a great way to develop these skills without venturing too far outside your preparation. The strategy is to apply them for minor situations that don't fundamentally change the overarching story. As an example, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. But, I might use it to determine if the party enter a room just in time to see a key action occurs.

Empowering Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also serves to maintain tension and create the feeling that the adventure is alive, evolving based on their actions immediately. It combats the feeling that they are merely pawns in a pre-written story, thereby bolstering the collaborative aspect of the game.

This philosophy has historically been part of the core of D&D. The game's roots were filled with random tables, which suited a game focused on treasure hunting. Although contemporary D&D frequently focuses on narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, it's not necessarily the only path.

Achieving the Right Balance

It is perfectly no problem with doing your prep. But, it's also fine no issue with stepping back and letting the whim of chance to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Direction is a big part of a DM's role. We use it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to release it, at times when doing so might improve the game.

My final suggestion is this: Do not fear of letting go of your plan. Try a little chance for minor story elements. You might just find that the unexpected outcome is infinitely more powerful than anything you might have pre-written in advance.