Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters run D&D games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among forever DMs who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs who are probably in comparable situations and also want to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The workshops are designed so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Career building includes several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals.

“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, others aim to release and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.

“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored 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 a teacher, who will then offer feedback and instruction.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to assess whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to a longer period, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”