Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among career game masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of fellow DMs, where direct communication with expert teachers and other game masters often in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

DMs can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes two days of classwork divided across 48 hours.

“The workshops are structured so that you walk away with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement features several experts, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is designed to offer targeted guidance to attendees with specific goals.

“Certain participants aim to start their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 enhanced option includes access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to manage an adventure for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and instruction.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scenario for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the first event will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be amazing to be able to do this in conjunction with big conventions.”