Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters manage D&D games in historic castles in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among career game masters who rarely get the chance to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a structured way to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and other game masters who are probably in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the level of access they desire with the experts. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the basics of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

Every class includes eight hours of training divided across 48 hours.

“The workshops are created so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the following week and implement in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is taught by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Career building presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is designed to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and write original content,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“One could practically host an entire weekend just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the lab work is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and coaching.

“The purpose is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. May I present a situation for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been building.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the inaugural session will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we do this very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to do this in conjunction with large gatherings.”