Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to join in the game 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 coordinators began designing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is planned for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs who are probably in a similar position and aim to enhance their abilities,” noted the program's dean.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from options ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the level of access they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the crafting of environments.
• Career Building: Aimed at game masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

Every class includes two days of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are created so that you leave with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the next week and implement in your local game.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are taught by duo of instructors. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development presents several experts, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to deliver focused advice to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants plan to create their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, some of them want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 enhanced option includes access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“You could almost run an full two days just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier offers an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to manage an adventure for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the faculty member to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”