Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among forever DMs who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations 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 set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“You can watch countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs likely in the same boat and seek to enhance their abilities,” stated Jason Carl.
Available Classes and Pricing Tiers
DMs can opt for options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The starting package includes selection from four classes:
- Core Techniques: Teaches the fundamentals of leading a game.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
- Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
- Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
Every class includes multiple sessions of instruction split over a weekend.
“The classes are structured so that you leave with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the next week and put into practice in your regular session.”
Seasoned Educators
The majority of workshops are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.
Career building includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is intended to provide specialized information to attendees with specific goals.
“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”
Advanced Options
A $1,500 gold tier includes access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.
“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – In my opinion the structured learning and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to lead a session for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and instruction.
“The purpose is for the instructor to review whatever the DM is concerned with: I have difficulty with improv or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to receive input and information on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”
Coming Developments
Input from the debut workshop will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements.
“I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The feedback has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I think it would be fantastic to be able to do this in collaboration with big conventions.”
