Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where expert DMs lead Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in Britain and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated 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 improv and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters likely in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” stated the program's dean.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can opt for packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes eight hours of classwork spread over two days.

“The courses are designed so that you depart having tangible results, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement presents four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to students with particular aims.

“Some of them aim to start their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the coursework and the lab work is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to run a game for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improv or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Input from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in various nations. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in collaboration with big conventions.”