🔗 Share this article

As a game master, I usually steered clear of significant use of randomization during my D&D games. My preference was for story direction and what happened in a game to be shaped by character actions rather than the roll of a die. However, I opted to alter my method, and I'm very glad I did.

The Spark: Observing an Improvised Tool

A popular streamed game utilizes a DM who regularly asks for "chance rolls" from the players. This involves picking a type of die and defining potential outcomes based on the result. This is fundamentally no different from rolling on a pre-generated chart, these get invented on the spot when a character's decision has no predetermined outcome.

I decided to try this technique at my own session, primarily because it seemed engaging and provided a change from my normal practice. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the perennial tension between preparation and improvisation in a roleplaying game.

An Emotional Story Beat

During one session, my party had concluded a massive conflict. Afterwards, a player wondered if two key NPCs—a pair—had made it. In place of picking a fate, I asked for a roll. I told the player to roll a d20. The possible results were: a low roll, both were killed; a middling roll, a single one would die; a high roll, they made it.

The player rolled a 4. This triggered a profoundly poignant sequence where the adventurers came upon the remains of their friends, forever holding hands in their final moments. The cleric held a ceremony, which was uniquely powerful due to previous story developments. As a final touch, I decided that the remains were suddenly transformed, containing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the item's contained spell was exactly what the party required to solve another critical story problem. It's impossible to plan these kinds of serendipitous story beats.

Improving DM Agility

This experience made me wonder if randomization and making it up are truly the beating heart of this game. Even if you are a prep-heavy DM, your improvisation muscles may atrophy. Groups frequently take delight in derailing the best constructed narratives. Therefore, a effective DM needs to be able to pivot effectively and create details in the moment.

Using on-the-spot randomization is a great way to train these skills without going completely outside your preparation. The trick is to apply them for small-scale decisions that don't fundamentally change the session's primary direction. For instance, I wouldn't use it to establish if the main villain is a secret enemy. However, I would consider using it to figure out whether the PCs reach a location right after a key action unfolds.

Enhancing Shared Narrative

Spontaneous randomization also works to make players feel invested and foster the sensation that the story is responsive, evolving according to their decisions as they play. It combats the feeling that they are merely pawns in a pre-written story, thereby strengthening the shared aspect of the game.

This approach has long been embedded in the game's DNA. Original D&D were enamored with charts, which fit a game focused on dungeon crawling. Although contemporary D&D frequently focuses on plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the best approach.

Finding the Right Balance

There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing your prep. However, there is also nothing wrong with relinquishing control and permitting the whim of chance to guide minor details instead of you. Control is a big factor in a DM's role. We need it to run the game, yet we frequently find it hard to give some up, even when doing so could be beneficial.

My final suggestion is this: Do not fear of letting go of control. Experiment with a little chance for inconsequential details. It may discover that the unexpected outcome is significantly more memorable than anything you might have planned in advance.