Monte Cook and Keith Baker Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players 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 coordinators began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience alongside peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” stated the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

DMs can select tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes eight hours of instruction divided across two days.

“The classes are designed so that you walk away with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Professional development features several experts, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.

“Certain participants plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, several aim to release and write original content,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Advanced Options

A $1.5K premium package offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – In my opinion the coursework and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The aim is for the faculty member to evaluate whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Input from the inaugural session will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we do this regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in various nations. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in conjunction with big conventions.”