Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.
In response, the planners began crafting a structured way to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session in the company of other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in the same boat and aim to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.
Course Offerings and Cost Levels
DMs can opt for options ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
- Campaign Building: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
- Setting Creation: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
- Professional Development: Tailored to game masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.
Each course includes multiple sessions of instruction divided across two days.
“The courses are created so that you depart having tangible results, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.
Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims.
“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and write original content,” Carl said. “Some just want 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?”
Higher Tiers
A $1.5K premium package offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This represents the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.
“You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar top package offers an 60-minute private session and the chance to lead a session for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching.
“The purpose is for the faculty member to evaluate whichever aspect is focused on: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”
Future Plans
Responses from the inaugural session will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, making it longer to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements.
“I expect that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The response has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”
