Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running immersive events where expert DMs manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in the UK and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated 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 improv and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

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

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction in the company of peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your peers often in comparable situations and aim to enhance their abilities,” noted Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can opt for packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes two days of instruction split over 48 hours.

“The classes are created so that you leave with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can join, learn from, and then head back to your table the following week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are led by duo of instructors. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Career building presents several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is designed to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives.

“Some of them plan to create their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Several only seek 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? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A $1.5K enhanced option offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This marks the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think the coursework 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 premium option provides an 60-minute private session and the possibility to manage an adventure for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The aim is for the teacher to evaluate any element is interested in: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to receive input and information on a particular setting that they’ve been building.”

Future Plans

Responses from the debut workshop will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we conduct these very often,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with current developments and I think it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”