Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Sessions at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are especially popular among forever DMs who infrequently find the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of DMU. The inaugural event is set for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your peers often in the same boat and aim to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Game masters can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Covers the fundamentals of running D&D.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Tailored to DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes two days of training spread over 48 hours.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the next week and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are taught by two professors. Universe creation is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to deliver focused advice to students with specific goals.

“Some of them want to launch their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, others 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 a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl said. “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 extremely important – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K 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 instructor to review any element is concerned with: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Responses from the first event will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments 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 regularly,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I feel it would be amazing to be able to do this in partnership with big conventions.”