Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among forever DMs who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your peers often in a similar position and aim to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can select packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, according to the level of access they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes multiple sessions of training spread over a weekend.

“The classes are structured so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can participate in, learn from, and then head back to your table the week after and implement in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Professional development includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals.

“Certain participants aim to start their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 enhanced option includes access to a welcome reception, 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 comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – In my opinion the structured learning and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The aim is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. May I present a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and advice on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to three days, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I expect that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in partnership with big conventions.”