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

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among career game masters who infrequently find the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is set for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs who are probably in a similar position and also want to improve their skills,” noted Jason Carl.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can opt for packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Teaches the essentials of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Aimed at DMs who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes eight hours of classwork divided across 48 hours.

“The classes are designed so that you leave with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are taught by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Career building includes four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is meant to deliver focused advice to participants with particular aims.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I think the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to manage an adventure for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The goal is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: I struggle with improv or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a given year, in various locations, and in different countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to do this in partnership with major events.”