Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among career game masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of DMU. The debut workshop is planned for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in a similar position and seek to improve their skills,” explained the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Core Techniques: Teaches the basics of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes eight hours of classwork divided across a weekend.

“The classes are structured so that you leave with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Setting design is led by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Some of them want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option includes an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to manage an adventure for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The purpose is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Input from the inaugural session will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we do this frequently,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in conjunction with large gatherings.”