Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at Dungeon Master University
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the organizers began designing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.
“You can watch numerous digital guides on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session alongside other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and other game masters who are probably in the same boat and also want to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.
Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers
Dungeon Masters can select packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the level of access they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes one of four courses:
- Skill Building: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
- Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures.
- Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
- Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.
Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork split over 48 hours.
“The workshops are structured so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, learn from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your home campaign.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Setting design is guided by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding.
Professional development features multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.
“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Higher Tiers
A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.
“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the lab work is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The $2.5K premium option provides an extended personal consultation and the possibility to manage an adventure for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and guidance.
“The goal is for the faculty member to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”
Future Plans
Responses from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.
“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl stated. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with big conventions.”