🔗 Share this article Monte Cook and Keith Baker Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta. “There are countless online tutorials on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters often in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” explained the program's dean. Available Classes and Ticket Packages Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses: Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Highlights the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for DMs who want to learn more about the tabletop profession. Every class includes two days of training split over a weekend. “The courses are designed so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. 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 Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation. Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals. “Certain participants plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Advanced Options A fifteen hundred dollar premium package provides access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier provides an extended personal consultation and the possibility to lead a session for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the instructor to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and information on a particular setting that they’ve been building.” Next Steps Responses from the first event will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with varied class arrangements. “I expect that we do this very often,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta. “There are countless online tutorials on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters often in the same boat and also want to level up their game,” explained the program's dean. Available Classes and Ticket Packages Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses: Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Highlights the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for DMs who want to learn more about the tabletop profession. Every class includes two days of training split over a weekend. “The courses are designed so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. 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 Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation. Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals. “Certain participants plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Advanced Options A fifteen hundred dollar premium package provides access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier provides an extended personal consultation and the possibility to lead a session for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the instructor to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and information on a particular setting that they’ve been building.” Next Steps Responses from the first event will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with varied class arrangements. “I expect that we do this very often,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”