Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Classes at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run D&D games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The first session is planned for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction in the company of fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and your peers often in comparable situations and also want to improve their skills,” stated the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

DMs can choose from options ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the essentials of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Professional Development: Aimed at dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes eight hours of instruction divided across a weekend.

“The workshops are designed so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” 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 following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

The majority of workshops are led by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.

“Some of them plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, others aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 premium package offers access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“You could almost run an full two days just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the coursework and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The aim is for the instructor to evaluate whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to receive input and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Input from the first event will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or testing different seminar structures.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be amazing to be able to do this in collaboration with large gatherings.”