Monte Cook and Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the establishment of DMU. The first session is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are numerous digital guides on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and other game masters who are probably in comparable situations and seek to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes two days of training spread over two days.

“The workshops are created so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is designed to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims.

“Various attendees plan to create their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K premium package includes access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“One could practically host an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the possibility to lead a session for a small group plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction.

“The aim is for the teacher to review any element is interested in: I struggle with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to receive input and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Responses from the first event will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in collaboration with large gatherings.”