Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to actually play themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“You can watch countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in the same boat and seek to improve their skills,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Cost Levels

DMs can opt for options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the level of access they desire with the experts. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of instruction divided across two days.

“The classes are structured so that you depart having tangible results, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are instructed by duo of instructors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement includes multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to students with specific goals.

“Some of them plan to create their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“You could almost run an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option includes an 60-minute private session and the possibility to lead a session for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The aim is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Input from the first event will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”