Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at DMU
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.
In response, the planners began developing a structured way to address these questions, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and other game masters often in comparable situations and also want to enhance their abilities,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Available Classes and Cost Levels
Game masters can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:
- Core Techniques: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
- Campaign Building: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
- Worldbuilding: Highlights the crafting of environments.
- Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.
Every class includes two days of training divided across 48 hours.
“The courses are created so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the next week and apply in your home campaign.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design.
Professional development includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.
“Various attendees aim to start their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”
Advanced Options
A $1,500 premium package provides access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.
“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the formal instruction and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The $2,500 premium option provides an 60-minute private session and the chance to lead a session for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and guidance.
“The purpose is for the instructor to assess whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a situation for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a specific world that they’ve been building.”
Next Steps
Responses from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, making it longer to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.
“I anticipate that we conduct these frequently,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with current developments and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to do this in collaboration with big conventions.”