Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Will Lead Classes at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where experienced game masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who infrequently find the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session alongside fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with seasoned educators and other game masters often in the same boat and seek to improve their skills,” noted the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

DMs can opt for options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, according to the level of access they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes eight hours of instruction spread over 48 hours.

“The classes are designed so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and implement in your local game.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is designed to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the formal instruction and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier offers an 60-minute private session and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review any element is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to receive input and information on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the inaugural session will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or testing different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a calendar 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 wonderful to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”