Keith Baker and Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in the UK and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is set for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Designed for game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes eight hours of instruction split over 48 hours.

“The classes are designed so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are led by duo of instructors. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement presents several experts, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is designed to deliver focused advice to participants with particular aims.

“Various attendees want to launch their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 premium package offers access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the structured learning and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option provides an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. May I present a situation for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I hope that we conduct these regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The response has been extremely positive. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with big conventions.”