Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.
In response, the coordinators began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” explained Jason Carl.
Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers
DMs can opt for tiers ranging from $995 to $2,500, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of leading a game.
- Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
- Universe Design: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
- Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
Every class includes two days of classwork spread over two days.
“The courses are designed so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your home campaign.”
Expert Instructors
Most classes are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the craft of setting creation.
Professional development features several experts, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is intended to provide specialized information to students with specific goals.
“Various attendees plan to create their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, others aim to release and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Advanced Options
A $1.5K enhanced option provides access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.
“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”
The $2.5K top package includes an 60-minute private session and the possibility to run a game for a small group plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.
“The aim is for the faculty member to evaluate whatever the DM is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”
Next Steps
Feedback from the inaugural session will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.
“I expect that we conduct these very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I think it would be amazing to be able to do this in collaboration with big conventions.”
