Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch 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 together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can opt for packages ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the basics of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes eight hours of instruction spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the following week and implement in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are instructed by two professors. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Career building features multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims.

“Some of them aim to start their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 enhanced option offers access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option includes an 60-minute private session and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The purpose is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is interested in: I struggle with improv or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Input from the first event will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in different cities, and in various nations. The reception has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”