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As a DM, I historically steered clear of heavy use of chance during my D&D adventures. My preference was for the plot and session development to be guided by character actions rather than pure luck. However, I opted to try something different, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Observing a Custom Mechanic

A well-known actual-play show features a DM who frequently requests "fate rolls" from the participants. He does this by selecting a type of die and defining consequences based on the result. This is essentially no unlike rolling on a random table, these are created in the moment when a course of events has no obvious outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own game, mostly because it seemed novel and provided a change from my usual habits. The outcome were remarkable, prompting me to reconsider the often-debated balance between planning and randomization in a D&D campaign.

An Emotional Session Moment

During one session, my players had concluded a city-wide fight. Later, a cleric character asked about two beloved NPCs—a sibling duo—had made it. Rather than picking a fate, I let the dice decide. I instructed the player to make a twenty-sided die roll. The possible results were: on a 1-4, both were killed; on a 5-9, only one succumbed; on a 10+, they made it.

The die came up a 4. This triggered a profoundly moving moment where the adventurers came upon the corpses of their allies, forever united in death. The cleric performed funeral rites, which was especially powerful due to earlier character interactions. As a parting reward, I chose that the remains were strangely restored, revealing a enchanted item. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was perfectly what the party needed to solve another major story problem. It's impossible to orchestrate such magical moments.

Improving Your Improvisation

This event caused me to question if improvisation and making it up are in fact the beating heart of tabletop RPGs. While you are a detail-oriented DM, your improvisation muscles need exercise. Groups often take delight in upending the best constructed plots. Therefore, a effective DM has to be able to pivot effectively and fabricate content in the moment.

Utilizing similar mechanics is a great way to develop these talents without straying too much outside your comfort zone. The strategy is to use them for minor situations that won't drastically alter the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would not employ it to decide if the central plot figure is a traitor. Instead, I would consider using it to decide if the characters arrive just in time to see a critical event occurs.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

This technique also works to make players feel invested and foster the sensation that the game world is dynamic, shaping based on their choices as they play. It combats the feeling that they are merely pawns in a rigidly planned story, thereby enhancing the cooperative aspect of the game.

This approach has long been embedded in the game's DNA. The game's roots were enamored with random tables, which made sense for a playstyle focused on treasure hunting. Even though contemporary D&D often prioritizes narrative and role-play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, this isn't always the required method.

Finding the Right Balance

Absolutely no issue with doing your prep. But, there is also no issue with stepping back and letting the dice to guide minor details in place of you. Control is a big factor in a DM's responsibilities. We use it to manage the world, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, even when doing so might improve the game.

My final suggestion is this: Have no fear of letting go of the reins. Experiment with a little improvisation for inconsequential story elements. The result could find that the organic story beat is far more memorable than anything you could have planned by yourself.