Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Teaching Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage D&D games in historic castles in the UK and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the planners began crafting a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs who are probably in a similar position and seek to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Ticket Packages

Dungeon Masters can choose from packages ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Core Techniques: Covers the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Universe Design: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes multiple sessions of training divided across 48 hours.

“The courses are designed so that you leave with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can participate in, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and implement in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

The majority of workshops are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Industry advancement includes four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an full two days just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option includes an extended personal consultation and the possibility to manage an adventure for five players plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is focused on: I have difficulty with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Responses from the inaugural session will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I expect that we host such events very often,” Carl said. “I really want to see numerous academy events in a single year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with large gatherings.”