🔗 Share this article Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Classes at Dungeon Master Academy Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the planners began crafting 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 Oglethorpe University. “There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where direct communication with expert teachers and other game masters often in the same boat and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl. Available Classes and Ticket Packages Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops: Skill Building: Covers the fundamentals of running D&D. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments. Professional Development: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork divided across two days. “The workshops are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, learn from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, both teaching the craft of setting creation. Career building includes several experts, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals. “Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, some of them want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?” Higher Tiers A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This marks the debut of the program, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think 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 top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and instruction. “The aim is for the instructor to assess any element is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.” Future Plans Responses from the inaugural session will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats. “I hope that we do this regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the planners began crafting 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 Oglethorpe University. “There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where direct communication with expert teachers and other game masters often in the same boat and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl. Available Classes and Ticket Packages Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops: Skill Building: Covers the fundamentals of running D&D. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments. Professional Development: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork divided across two days. “The workshops are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, learn from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, both teaching the craft of setting creation. Career building includes several experts, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals. “Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, some of them want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?” Higher Tiers A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This marks the debut of the program, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think 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 top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and instruction. “The aim is for the instructor to assess any element is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.” Future Plans Responses from the inaugural session will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats. “I hope that we do this regularly,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”