🔗 Share this article Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Classes at DMU Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table. In response, the coordinators began designing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of DMU. The first session is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta. “It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your peers often in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl. Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers Game masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops: Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D. Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures. Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession. All workshops includes two days of classwork split over two days. “The courses are structured so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your local game.” Professional Teachers Most classes are led by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design. Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is designed to provide specialized information to participants with definite objectives. “Certain participants want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A $1,500 premium package provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events. “It would be possible to organize an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance. “The aim is for the teacher to evaluate whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.” Next Steps Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements. “I anticipate that we host such events regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I think it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table. In response, the coordinators began designing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of DMU. The first session is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta. “It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your peers often in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl. Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers Game masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops: Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D. Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures. Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession. All workshops includes two days of classwork split over two days. “The courses are structured so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your local game.” Professional Teachers Most classes are led by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design. Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is designed to provide specialized information to participants with definite objectives. “Certain participants want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A $1,500 premium package provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events. “It would be possible to organize an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance. “The aim is for the teacher to evaluate whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.” Next Steps Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements. “I anticipate that we host such events regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I think it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”