Keith Baker and Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters run D&D games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among career game masters who infrequently find the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs who are probably in comparable situations and aim to improve their skills,” explained the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

DMs can choose from packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Teaches the basics of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of classwork divided across 48 hours.

“The courses are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can join, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are taught by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Career building presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to provide specialized information to participants with definite objectives.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others plan to produce and write original content,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier offers access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.

“One could practically host an entire weekend just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – In my opinion the formal instruction and the lab work is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and instruction.

“The goal is for the teacher to assess whichever aspect is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and information on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the first event will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in different countries. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to do this in collaboration with major events.”