Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master University
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where expert DMs run fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among forever DMs who infrequently find the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is planned for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs often in comparable situations and aim to improve their skills,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Course Offerings and Ticket Packages
DMs can opt for packages ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of managing a session.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
- Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
- Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.
All workshops includes two days of training spread over 48 hours.
“The courses are structured so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can participate in, learn from, and then head back to your table the following week and implement in your regular session.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are taught by duo of instructors. Setting design is led by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.
Career building includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to provide specialized information to attendees with specific goals.
“Some of them want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, some of them aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”
Premium Packages
A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.
“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The $2.5K platinum tier provides an extended personal consultation and the possibility to manage an adventure for a small group plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching.
“The aim is for the instructor to review any element is concerned with: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”
Future Plans
Responses from the inaugural session will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.
“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with big conventions.”