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

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers often in a similar position and aim to level up their game,” stated the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

Game masters can select packages ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Core Techniques: Teaches the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes two days of instruction split over a weekend.

“The classes are created so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Career building includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “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? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package provides access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I think the formal instruction and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Input from the debut workshop will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I expect that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in various locations, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I think it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”