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

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs likely in a similar position and also want to level up their game,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Game masters can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Teaches the basics of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes eight hours of training divided across two days.

“The classes are created so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are led by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding.

Industry advancement includes several experts, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with definite objectives.

“Some of them aim to start their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option offers 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 coaching.

“The aim is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate 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 building.”

Future Plans

Input from the debut workshop will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The feedback has been really terrific. We’re very happy with the results so far and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to do this in conjunction with big conventions.”