Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who infrequently find the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and your peers likely in comparable situations and seek to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

Game masters can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, depending on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of classwork split over a weekend.

“The courses are structured so that you leave with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is intended to deliver focused advice to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and write original content,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 premium package includes access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier offers an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is focused on: I struggle with improv or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a situation for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Responses from the first event will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we host such events regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with big conventions.”