Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are highly favored among forever DMs who rarely get the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in the same boat and also want to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

DMs can opt for options ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Designed for DMs who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes eight hours of instruction divided across a weekend.

“The courses are created so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can join, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and implement in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is meant to deliver focused advice to students with particular aims.

“Various attendees aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K gold tier includes access to a introductory event, 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 similar events during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I believe the formal instruction 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 $2,500 premium option includes an 60-minute private session and the possibility to manage an adventure for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate whichever aspect is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing different seminar structures.

“I expect that we do this frequently,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with major events.”