Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are countless online tutorials on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in comparable situations and also want to enhance their abilities,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

Game masters can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Core Techniques: Covers the essentials of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Aimed at game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

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

“The workshops are structured so that you leave with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the next week and implement in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are taught by duo of instructors. Setting design is taught by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Career building features multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims.

“Various attendees plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, others want to publish and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K enhanced option offers access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 top package provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate any element is interested in: I struggle with improvisation or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the inaugural session will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I anticipate that we host such events frequently,” Carl said. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with major events.”