Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs who are probably in the same boat and seek to enhance their abilities,” explained Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select packages ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes two days of instruction split over a weekend.

“The classes are designed so that you leave with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement includes four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is meant to provide specialized information to participants with definite objectives.

“Some of them want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – In my opinion the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package includes an extended personal consultation and the chance to lead a session for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to evaluate whatever the DM is concerned with: I struggle with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the debut workshop will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”