🔗 Share this article Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master University Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the planners began crafting a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The inaugural event is set for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters likely in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” noted the program's dean. Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The starting package includes selection from four classes: Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games. Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design. Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Each course includes eight hours of instruction split over two days. “The courses are structured so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the next week and implement in your regular session.” Seasoned Educators Many sessions are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding. Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals. “Some of them aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings. “It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package provides an 60-minute private session and the possibility to lead a session for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been creating.” Future Plans Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out alternative workshop formats. “I anticipate that we do this frequently,” Carl stated. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The feedback has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with major events.”
Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the planners began crafting a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The inaugural event is set for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters likely in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” noted the program's dean. Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The starting package includes selection from four classes: Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games. Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design. Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Each course includes eight hours of instruction split over two days. “The courses are structured so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the next week and implement in your regular session.” Seasoned Educators Many sessions are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding. Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals. “Some of them aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings. “It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package provides an 60-minute private session and the possibility to lead a session for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been creating.” Future Plans Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out alternative workshop formats. “I anticipate that we do this frequently,” Carl stated. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The feedback has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with major events.”