Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among forever DMs who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and seek to enhance their abilities,” stated the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can opt for options ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes eight hours of training split over 48 hours.

“The workshops are structured so that you depart having usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals.

“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and write original content,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“You could almost run an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an 60-minute private session and the possibility to manage an adventure for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the instructor to review whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the debut workshop will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to 72 hours, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I think it would be amazing to be able to do this in partnership with large gatherings.”