Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in Britain and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with seasoned educators and other game masters often in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Ticket Packages

Game masters can opt for packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Professional Development: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes multiple sessions of training divided across two days.

“The workshops are created so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the next week and implement in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Universe creation is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to participants with definite objectives.

“Certain participants plan to create their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“One could practically host an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an 60-minute private session and the possibility to lead a session for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The goal is for the faculty member to assess any element is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to receive input and information on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the inaugural session will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in partnership with large gatherings.”