Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among forever DMs who rarely get the moment to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The inaugural event is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your peers who are probably in the same boat and aim to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from $995 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at game masters who want to learn more about the gaming industry.

Each course includes multiple sessions of training spread over two days.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the following week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.

Industry advancement features multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to offer targeted guidance to attendees with specific goals.

“Some of them plan to create their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, some of them plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This marks the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the coursework and the lab work is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 top package offers an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for several participants plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The goal is for the teacher to review any element is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. May I present a scene for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in various locations, and in various nations. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with the results so far and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”