Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run D&D games in historic castles in England and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are numerous digital guides on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in a similar position and also want to improve their skills,” noted Jason Carl.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

DMs can select options ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes eight hours of instruction split over a weekend.

“The workshops are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is designed to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“One could practically host an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I think the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and instruction.

“The purpose is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to 72 hours, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in collaboration with large gatherings.”