Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in historic castles in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, 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 faculty instructors and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the essentials of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes eight hours of training split over 48 hours.

“The workshops are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are led by two professors. Setting design is guided by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Professional development presents several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is designed to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.

“Some of them want to launch their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“One could practically host an full two days just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and coaching.

“The aim is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or testing different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be amazing to be able to do this in partnership with large gatherings.”