Monte Cook and Monte Cook Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among forever DMs who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs often in the same boat and seek to level up their game,” noted the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Ticket Packages

Dungeon Masters can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Professional Development: Designed for DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes eight hours of training spread over two days.

“The workshops are structured so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then return to your group the next week and apply in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are taught by two professors. Setting design is taught by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with particular aims.

“Various attendees want to launch their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“One could practically host an full two days just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The purpose is for the teacher to review any element is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Input from the first event will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing different seminar structures.

“I expect that we do this frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in collaboration with large gatherings.”