Luck Rolls

Luck rolls

When sheer skill and strength aren’t enough, it might be time to rely on good ol’ fashioned luck. TTRPGs have employed the use of luck in their systems to aid Game Masters and Players alike. In Call of Cthulhu 7th edition, there is a dedicated Luck score that allows players to improve their skill checks by subtracting from its value, or the score can be used to make a dedicated Luck check to literally determine how lucky a player might be. It could be used to determine if a player finds a useful item or how severe an injury is.

I have begun to employ the use of a Luck check in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) games. I think sometimes luck is just a necessary part of a narrative.

When to call for a Luck check

Generally, I will have a player roll a luck check whenever I think fate must play a factor in the story. Here are a few examples of when I’ve used them in the recent past:

When a player knocked over a cabinet of potions, they wanted to see if any potions remained intact amongst the shattered glass. I had them roll a Luck check to see if there would be any that were still usable. They rolled very well, so three of the rarer potions were spared as they were held inside a cushioned container.

A player that missed a shot with an Arrow of Giant Slaying wanted to see if they could still find it intact. I had them roll the luck check to see if the arrow survived the missed shot. They didn’t roll very well, so the arrow was broken, but the magic was still intact so they could repurpose the arrowhead and make a new arrow.

A player asked if there was a ladder in the warehouse the party was investigating so they could use it to get up to the rafters. I had them make a Luck check to see if there was one in the room or nearby. They met the exact DC I had set, so they found the ladder propped up against the wall behind some large crates.

What is the DC for Luck checks

When I call for a Luck check in D&D, I usually have the player or players roll a d20 without adding any modifiers to the roll. I try to consider a percentage when I set a Luck check DC. In most cases, a 50/50 check is what I call for. So, an 11 or higher on the die is a success, and a 10 or lower is a failure.

For more unlikely scenarios, I increase the DC. For something that would require incredible Luck, I might even require a roll of a 20.

No matter what the DC is, I tend to tell my players what I set the DC to before the roll is made. I think it adds a level of excitement to the roll and highlights the sense of tension surrounding the moment.

Luck checks and the “Lucky Feat” if a player in one of the games run has the Lucky feat then I usually give them the option to use a luck point to re-roll a luck check if they wish to do so.

Finally…

TTRPGs are already games of chance, but sometimes I think that fate needs to intervene to a greater degree. Having Luck checks present at the table adds a level of tension and excitement that can escalate an encounter or add reason to an event. Luck checks also serve as an easy way to justify something happening without relying on a character’s skill, and they can allow the players to interact with the environment in unique ways.