Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters run D&D games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is set for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters likely in the same boat and seek to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can choose from options ranging from $995 to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Story Arc Development: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes multiple sessions of instruction spread over 48 hours.

“The workshops are created so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your local game.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are taught by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement features several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with particular aims.

“Some of them want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 gold tier includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the debut of the program, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – In my opinion 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 $2.5K premium option offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for a small group plus a teacher, who will then give comments and coaching.

“The aim is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the first event will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The response has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I think it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”