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When I am a DM, I historically steered clear of extensive use of randomization during my tabletop roleplaying adventures. I tended was for the plot and session development to be shaped by character actions instead of the roll of a die. Recently, I decided to alter my method, and I'm incredibly glad I did.

The Inspiration: Watching a Custom Mechanic

An influential podcast features a DM who regularly calls for "chance rolls" from the participants. He does this by picking a specific dice and assigning consequences based on the result. It's at its core no unlike using a random table, these are devised on the spot when a player's action lacks a clear outcome.

I opted to test this technique at my own session, mostly because it looked novel and provided a change from my standard routine. The outcome were eye-opening, prompting me to reflect on the perennial dynamic between planning and spontaneity in a roleplaying game.

A Powerful Session Moment

At a session, my players had just emerged from a massive battle. When the dust settled, a cleric character inquired after two key NPCs—a sibling duo—had survived. In place of deciding myself, I let the dice decide. I told the player to roll a d20. I defined the outcomes as: a low roll, both were killed; on a 5-9, a single one would die; a high roll, they survived.

The player rolled a 4. This resulted in a deeply moving sequence where the characters discovered the bodies of their allies, still clasped together in death. The group conducted funeral rites, which was especially powerful due to prior character interactions. As a final touch, I decided that the NPCs' bodies were suddenly transformed, revealing a magical Prayer Bead. I rolled for, the item's magical effect was precisely what the group needed to solve another critical quest obstacle. It's impossible to script such perfect story beats.

Honing Your Improvisation

This experience caused me to question if improvisation and thinking on your feet are in fact the core of tabletop RPGs. Even if you are a meticulously planning DM, your ability to adapt may atrophy. Adventurers frequently find joy in upending the best constructed plots. Therefore, a good DM must be able to pivot effectively and fabricate details in the moment.

Utilizing on-the-spot randomization is a great way to practice these skills without venturing too far outside your preparation. The strategy is to apply them for small-scale decisions that won't drastically alter the campaign's main plot. For instance, I would avoid using it to decide if the main villain is a traitor. But, I might use it to figure out if the characters reach a location just in time to see a critical event occurs.

Empowering Player Agency

This technique also works to make players feel invested and create the feeling that the story is alive, progressing in reaction to their actions as they play. It reduces the feeling that they are merely actors in a pre-written script, thereby bolstering the collaborative foundation of the game.

Randomization has always been integral to the core of D&D. Original D&D were reliant on random tables, which suited a game focused on exploration. Although current D&D often emphasizes plot-driven play, leading many DMs to feel they need exhaustive notes, it's not necessarily the required method.

Finding the Sweet Spot

It is perfectly no problem with thorough preparation. Yet, equally valid nothing wrong with letting go and letting the rolls to determine certain outcomes rather than you. Authority is a major aspect of a DM's job. We require it to run the game, yet we can be reluctant to release it, in situations where doing so could be beneficial.

The core advice is this: Have no fear of letting go of the reins. Experiment with a little improvisation for inconsequential story elements. You might just create that the surprising result is infinitely more powerful than anything you would have pre-written in advance.