Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from experts on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your peers often in the same boat and seek to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can choose from options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes eight hours of classwork split over a weekend.

“The courses are structured so that you leave with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, learn from, and then return to your group the next week and apply in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are taught by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.

Industry advancement includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is intended to deliver focused advice to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees aim to start their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the coursework and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to manage an adventure for a small group plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and instruction.

“The goal is for the teacher to review whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Responses from the first event will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to three days, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we do this frequently,” Carl stated. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in conjunction with large gatherings.”