Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead D&D games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among forever DMs who infrequently find the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction in the company of peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” noted the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Game masters can choose from options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes multiple sessions of training spread over a weekend.

“The courses are created so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals.

“Some of them want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier offers an 60-minute private session and the possibility to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The aim is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scene for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to receive input and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the inaugural session will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to a longer period, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in different cities, and in various nations. The response has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with current developments and I think it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”