Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters who are probably in a similar position and also want to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

DMs can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Universe Design: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes eight hours of instruction divided across 48 hours.

“The classes are created so that you depart having usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the next week and apply in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Professional development presents several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is intended to deliver focused advice to attendees with definite objectives.

“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier includes access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think the coursework and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option includes an extended personal consultation and the possibility to manage an adventure for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the teacher to assess whatever the DM is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to a longer period, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”