Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Teaching Classes at DMU
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of DMU. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.
“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs who are probably in a similar position and aim to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers
DMs can opt for options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:
- Core Techniques: Covers the basics of running D&D.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games.
- Universe Design: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
- Professional Development: Tailored to dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
All workshops includes eight hours of classwork split over two days.
“The workshops are created so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”
Professional Teachers
Most classes are led by duo of instructors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, jointly leading the skill of universe design.
Industry advancement includes four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The extra instructors is intended to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals.
“Some of them want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, others plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Advanced Options
A $1,500 gold tier provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.
“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the structured learning and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier offers an 60-minute private session and the possibility to run a game for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.
“The aim is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: I struggle with improv or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. May I present a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to receive input and advice on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”
Coming Developments
Responses from the first event will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to a longer period, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.
“I hope that we host such events very often,” Carl stated. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The response has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with major events.”
