Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is planned for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” noted the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

Game masters can select packages ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at game masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The workshops are created so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can attend, learn from, and then head back to your table the week after and apply in your local game.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is guided by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.

“Some of them aim to start their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, some of them want to publish and write original content,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 gold tier includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to run a game for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The aim is for the teacher to review whatever the DM is concerned with: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Can I run a situation for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to receive input and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Responses from the first event will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in conjunction with major events.”