Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Will Lead Workshops at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where expert DMs run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers often in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of instruction split over two days.

“The workshops are designed so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, learn from, and then head back to your table the following week and implement in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are taught by duo of instructors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development includes four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is intended to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, others plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for several participants plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The goal is for the faculty member to evaluate whichever aspect is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Can I run a situation for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Responses from the inaugural session will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to a longer period, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The response has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in conjunction with large gatherings.”