Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in old manors in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among forever DMs who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of DMU. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session in the company of fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and seek to enhance their abilities,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Ticket Packages

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

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the essentials of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes eight hours of instruction spread over two days.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

The majority of workshops are taught by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Career building includes multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.

“Certain participants aim to start their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 gold tier offers access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an entire weekend just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an extended personal consultation and the chance to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The goal is for the faculty member to evaluate whatever the DM is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. May I present a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Responses from the first event will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in partnership with large gatherings.”