Keith Baker and Monte Cook Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and also want to level up their game,” noted Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Skill Building: Teaches the essentials of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes eight hours of instruction split over a weekend.

“The courses are designed so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are taught by a pair of experts. Setting design is taught by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development presents several experts, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants plan to create their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for a small group plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The aim is for the teacher to evaluate any element is interested in: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a single year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The response has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”