Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the planners began crafting a structured way to address these questions, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction alongside peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can choose from packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes two days of classwork spread over two days.

“The workshops are created so that you leave with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

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

Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to students with specific goals.

“Certain participants plan to create their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 premium package includes access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction.

“The goal is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is interested in: I struggle with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I anticipate that we do this frequently,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in various nations. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in conjunction with major events.”