Keith Baker and Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where expert DMs lead D&D games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are highly favored 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 improvisation and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.
In response, the organizers began developing a structured way to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers likely in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” explained Jason Carl.
Available Classes and Cost Levels
Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2.5K, according to the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Focuses on the fundamentals of leading a game.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
- Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
- Career Building: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.
Every class includes two days of classwork divided across a weekend.
“The workshops are designed so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”
Seasoned Educators
Most classes are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design.
Industry advancement includes several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to offer targeted guidance to attendees with definite objectives.
“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Higher Tiers
A $1.5K premium package offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.
“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I think the structured learning and the lab work is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar top package provides an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to lead a session for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.
“The aim is for the instructor to evaluate whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”
Future Plans
Responses from the inaugural session will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include adding more office hours, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.
“I hope that we host such events very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I think it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with large gatherings.”
