Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Instructing Classes at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session alongside peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and your peers often in the same boat and also want to enhance their abilities,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes two days of training divided across two days.

“The workshops are designed so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Advanced Options

A $1,500 gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the lab work 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 offers an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for a small group plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The aim is for the faculty member to evaluate whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the inaugural session will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to a longer period, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I anticipate that we conduct these very often,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I think it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”