Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage D&D games in old manors in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among forever DMs who rarely get the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is planned for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in the same boat and aim to enhance their abilities,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Cost Levels

DMs 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 base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the basics of running D&D.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Designed for game masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes multiple sessions of instruction spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are created so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then return to your group the following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are led by a pair of experts. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Professional development features multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives.

“Some of them aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K premium package includes access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with an instructor. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – In my opinion the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to run a game for a small group plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate whatever the DM is concerned with: I struggle with improv or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to receive input and information on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we host such events frequently,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”