Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run D&D games in old manors in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated the program's dean.

Available Classes and Ticket Packages

Game masters can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the essentials of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes two days of instruction split over two days.

“The classes are structured so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can join, learn from, and then head back to your table the following week and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is intended to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives.

“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “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 highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The goal is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. May I present a situation for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the debut workshop will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events regularly,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”