Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Classes at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in old manors in Britain and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session in the company of other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in the same boat and also want to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes eight hours of classwork spread over a weekend.

“The courses are structured so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and implement in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are led by duo of instructors. Universe creation is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants aim to start their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 premium package includes access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises 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 includes an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to run a game for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The aim is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the inaugural session will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a given year, in various locations, and in various nations. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”