Keith Baker and Keith Baker Are Instructing Classes at DMU

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among forever DMs who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is set for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and other game masters likely in comparable situations and aim to enhance their abilities,” noted Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can choose from tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at game masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes eight hours of classwork split over two days.

“The workshops are structured so that you depart having usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are instructed by duo of instructors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Career building features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.

“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, some of them plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The purpose is for the instructor to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in various locations, and in different countries. The response has been really terrific. We’re very happy with the results so far and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”