Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Classes at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among career game masters who seldom have the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the founding of DMU. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your peers likely in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Ticket Packages

DMs can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Skill Building: Covers the basics of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Aimed at dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes eight hours of instruction spread over a weekend.

“The courses are designed so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and implement in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

The majority of workshops are led by duo of instructors. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.

“Some of them plan to create their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – In my opinion the structured learning and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the possibility to run a game for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to assess any element is interested in: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I expect that we host such events frequently,” Carl stated. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I think it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in conjunction with major events.”