Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master University
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters manage D&D games in old manors in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among forever DMs who infrequently find the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.
In response, the planners began crafting a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the establishment of DMU. The inaugural event is planned for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction together with other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and your peers likely in a similar position and seek to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.
Available Classes and Pricing Tiers
Game masters can select packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, depending on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes selection from four classes:
- Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of leading a game.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
- Universe Design: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
- Career Building: Tailored to DMs who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.
All workshops includes multiple sessions of instruction divided across a weekend.
“The workshops are designed so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, learn from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your regular session.”
Expert Instructors
Most classes are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is taught by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design.
Professional development includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.
“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Advanced Options
A $1,500 premium package provides access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.
“You could almost run an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – In my opinion the formal instruction and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”
The $2,500 top package provides an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to lead a session for a small group plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.
“The goal is for the faculty member to review any element is focused on: I have difficulty with improv or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”
Next Steps
Input from the inaugural session will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements.
“I expect that we do this frequently,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”
