Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are especially popular among forever DMs who rarely get the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers often in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the level of access they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the basics of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes eight hours of instruction spread over a weekend.

“The courses are structured so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Professional development features several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to attendees with specific goals.

“Certain participants aim to start their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, others want to publish and write original content,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option provides an extended personal consultation and the possibility to run a game for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate any element is concerned with: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I expect that we do this regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a given year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”