Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience together with fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and other game masters who are probably in comparable situations and also want to improve their skills,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

DMs can choose from packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, according to the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Aimed at dungeon masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The classes are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development features several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is meant to deliver focused advice to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants aim to start their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, others aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the structured learning and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to manage an adventure for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The goal is for the teacher to assess whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Input from the debut workshop will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a single year, in various locations, and in various nations. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in collaboration with major events.”