Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Workshops at DMU

Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among career game masters who rarely get the moment to join in the game 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 coordinators began crafting a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch numerous digital guides on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing compares to a live, hands-on session in the company of other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters often in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Game masters can select tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the level of access they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Every class includes multiple sessions of instruction divided across two days.

“The workshops are designed so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is taught by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Professional development includes multiple instructors, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to provide specialized information to attendees with definite objectives.

“Some of them want to launch their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, several aim to release and write original content,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1,500 gold tier offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“One could practically host an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I believe the coursework and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the debut workshop will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in conjunction with major events.”