Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master University
Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where expert DMs manage Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are highly favored among career game masters who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University.
“You can watch countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs who are probably in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Available Classes and Ticket Packages
DMs can choose from options ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes one of four courses:
- Foundational Skills: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
- Campaign Building: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
- Setting Creation: Highlights the art of setting design.
- Career Building: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.
All workshops includes eight hours of instruction divided across two days.
“The workshops are designed so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the next week and apply in your local game.”
Seasoned Educators
Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Universe creation is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.
Career building presents several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims.
“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, others plan to produce and write original content,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”
Premium Packages
A $1.5K enhanced option offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.
“One could practically host an full two days just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the coursework and the lab work is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to lead a session for five players plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.
“The aim is for the faculty member to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to receive input and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”
Coming Developments
Responses from the inaugural session will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to three days, or testing alternative workshop formats.
“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with big conventions.”
