Keith Baker and Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters run D&D games in historic castles in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are highly favored among career game masters who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the founding of DMU. The debut workshop is set for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

DMs can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Teaches the essentials of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at DMs who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of training spread over two days.

“The courses are designed 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, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the following week and apply in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is designed to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I believe 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 chance to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to evaluate whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Can I run a situation for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the debut workshop will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl said that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to a longer period, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to do this in collaboration with major events.”