Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can choose from packages 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:

• Core Techniques: Covers the essentials of running D&D.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

Every class includes two days of training split over 48 hours.

“The classes are designed so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and implement in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

The majority of workshops are led by a pair of experts. Setting design is taught by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Professional development includes several experts, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.

“Certain participants aim to start their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 top package offers an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The purpose is for the teacher to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Responses from the debut workshop will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl said that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we do this regularly,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in various locations, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”