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

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your peers likely in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Ticket Packages

Game masters can opt for packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the essentials of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Tailored to DMs who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of training divided across two days.

“The courses are created so that you walk away with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

The majority of workshops are taught by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Industry advancement features multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is designed to deliver focused advice to students with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, several aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“One could practically host an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option provides an 60-minute private session and the chance to manage an adventure for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to assess any element is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Responses from the debut workshop will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl said that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to a longer period, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we host such events very often,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in conjunction with big conventions.”