Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Classes at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where expert DMs run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among forever DMs who infrequently find the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with expert teachers and your peers often in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Ticket Packages

Game masters can choose from packages ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Aimed at game masters who want to learn more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the next week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development presents multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to attendees with particular aims.

“Some of them want to launch their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Advanced Options

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

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I think the coursework and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier offers an extended personal consultation and the chance to lead a session for five players plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The aim is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is focused on: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “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 shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The feedback has been really terrific. We’re very happy with current developments and I believe it would be amazing to be able to organize these in partnership with big conventions.”