🔗 Share this article

As a Dungeon Master, I usually steered clear of heavy use of chance during my D&D sessions. I tended was for the plot and session development to be shaped by deliberate decisions instead of random chance. That said, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly pleased with the outcome.

The Catalyst: Observing an Improvised Tool

An influential actual-play show utilizes a DM who often requests "chance rolls" from the adventurers. He does this by choosing a polyhedral and outlining potential outcomes based on the number. While it's fundamentally no unlike rolling on a pre-generated chart, these are devised on the spot when a player's action doesn't have a obvious outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, primarily because it looked interesting and provided a break from my standard routine. The results were eye-opening, prompting me to think deeply about the ongoing tension between pre-determination and spontaneity in a D&D campaign.

A Memorable In-Game Example

At a session, my group had just emerged from a massive battle. Afterwards, a cleric character asked about two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. Instead of choosing an outcome, I handed it over to chance. I told the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: a low roll, both would perish; on a 5-9, a single one succumbed; a high roll, they both lived.

The player rolled a 4. This led to a profoundly poignant scene where the characters came upon the bodies of their companions, still clasped together in their final moments. The group held last rites, which was especially meaningful due to prior story developments. In a concluding touch, I improvised that the NPCs' bodies were strangely restored, showing a magical Prayer Bead. I randomized, the item's magical effect was precisely what the party lacked to solve another pressing story problem. One just orchestrate these kinds of serendipitous coincidences.

Sharpening DM Agility

This event made me wonder if randomization and spontaneity are truly the core of this game. While you are a meticulously planning DM, your skill to pivot need exercise. Players frequently take delight in upending the most detailed plots. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to adapt swiftly and invent details in real-time.

Using similar mechanics is a fantastic way to develop these abilities without going completely outside your usual style. The trick is to use them for minor decisions that won't drastically alter the session's primary direction. To illustrate, I would avoid using it to determine if the central plot figure is a secret enemy. However, I could use it to determine whether the characters enter a room just in time to see a major incident occurs.

Empowering Collaborative Storytelling

Spontaneous randomization also works to make players feel invested and create the sensation that the story is alive, shaping according to their decisions as they play. It reduces the perception that they are merely actors in a DM's sole script, thereby bolstering the collaborative nature of roleplaying.

This philosophy has always been embedded in the game's DNA. Early editions were enamored with encounter generators, which suited a game focused on dungeon crawling. Although modern D&D frequently prioritizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they must prep extensively, this isn't always the best approach.

Finding the Right Balance

It is perfectly no issue with being prepared. But, there is also nothing wrong with letting go and letting the dice to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Authority is a big aspect of a DM's responsibilities. We need it to run the game, yet we often struggle to cede it, at times when doing so might improve the game.

A piece of recommendation is this: Do not fear of letting go of control. Try a little improvisation for inconsequential details. It may discover that the organic story beat is infinitely more memorable than anything you might have planned on your own.