Keith Baker along with Keith Baker Will Lead Workshops at DMU
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began designing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is planned for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.
“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your peers likely in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” stated the program's dean.
Workshop Options and Ticket Packages
Dungeon Masters can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes selection from four classes:
- Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of managing a session.
- Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
- Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
- Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
Each course includes two days of training split over a weekend.
“The workshops are created so that you leave with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can attend, learn from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your home campaign.”
Professional Teachers
The majority of workshops are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is led by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design.
Industry advancement presents multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.
“Certain participants plan to create their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and write original content,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”
Higher Tiers
A $1,500 gold tier includes access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns 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 don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an extended personal consultation and the possibility to manage an adventure for a small group plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance.
“The aim is for the teacher to assess any element is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a situation for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”
Future Plans
Responses from the debut workshop will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or trying out varied class arrangements.
“I expect that we host such events frequently,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”
