Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among forever DMs who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is set for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your peers likely in a similar position and seek to improve their skills,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can choose from packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Tailored to game masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes multiple sessions of training divided across two days.

“The courses are created so that you walk away with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are taught by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement features four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to provide specialized information to attendees with definite objectives.

“Certain participants want to launch their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 enhanced option includes access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the debut of the program, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package offers an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for a small group plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The aim is for the teacher to evaluate any element is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scene for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to receive input and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Next Steps

Input from the debut workshop will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we do this very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with current developments and I think it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”