Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Sessions at DMU

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a structured way to address these questions, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The first session is set for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters often in a similar position and seek to enhance their abilities,” noted the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

DMs can choose from options ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Covers the essentials of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Designed for DMs who want to learn more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes eight hours of training divided across a weekend.

“The courses are created so that you depart having usable skills, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

The majority of workshops are led by duo of instructors. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement presents several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is intended to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Some of them aim to start their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A $1.5K gold tier provides access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes 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 office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for a small group plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction.

“The aim is for the instructor to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the first event will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, making it longer to three days, or testing different seminar structures.

“I hope that we do this regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been extremely positive. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in conjunction with large gatherings.”