Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is set for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction in the company of other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs who are probably in a similar position and seek to enhance their abilities,” noted Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can select packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Designed for DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes eight hours of classwork divided across a weekend.

“The workshops are designed so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can join, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the following week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Setting design is led by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K enhanced option includes access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I think the structured learning and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The purpose is for the instructor to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a situation for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and advice on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Input from the debut workshop will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we host such events frequently,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”