Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience together with peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your peers who are probably in a similar position and also want to level up their game,” noted Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Ticket Packages

Game masters can choose from packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Teaches the basics of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes two days of classwork spread over two days.

“The classes are designed so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the following week and implement in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Universe creation is taught by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Professional development presents four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is meant to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.

“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others aim to release and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package provides access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the coursework and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Input from the debut workshop will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to a longer period, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we do this regularly,” Carl said. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to do this in conjunction with big conventions.”