Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing immersive events where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The first session is planned for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

Game masters can select packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Career Building: Aimed at DMs who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of instruction split over 48 hours.

“The classes are structured so that you walk away with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can join, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Career building presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several want to publish and write original content,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier includes access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is interested in: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Responses from the first event will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with big conventions.”