Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Will Lead Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session in the company of other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your peers likely in a similar position and seek to improve their skills,” stated the program's dean.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

Game masters can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes two days of classwork divided across two days.

“The courses are designed so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can join, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are taught by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the skill of universe design.

Industry advancement presents several experts, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals.

“Various attendees aim to start their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Several only seek 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?”

Advanced Options

A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with a teacher. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“You could almost run an full two days just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – I believe the coursework and the lab work is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to run a game for a small group plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the first event will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to a longer period, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl said. “I truly hope to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”