Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters manage D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with seasoned educators and your peers often in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” explained the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

DMs can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the level of access they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes multiple sessions of training divided across 48 hours.

“The courses are created so that you depart having usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the next week and implement in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are led by duo of instructors. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is designed to deliver focused advice to attendees with definite objectives.

“Various attendees plan to create their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, others plan to produce 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? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the coursework and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option includes an extended personal consultation and the possibility to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The purpose is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Input from the first event will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we do this regularly,” Carl said. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in partnership with major events.”