Monte Cook and Keith Baker Will Lead Classes at Dungeon Master University
Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters manage fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began developing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is set for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University.
“You can watch countless online tutorials on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing compares to an in-person experience in the company of other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and aim to enhance their abilities,” noted Jason Carl.
Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers
Dungeon Masters can opt for options ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:
- Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
- Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
- Professional Development: Aimed at game masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.
All workshops includes multiple sessions of classwork split over two days.
“The courses are created so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can join, absorb insights from, and then head back to your table the week after and implement in your home campaign.”
Professional Teachers
The majority of workshops are led by duo of instructors. Universe creation is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, together instructing the craft of setting creation.
Career building includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, Clint McElroy, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is designed to provide specialized information to attendees with definite objectives.
“Various attendees want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others aim to release and write original content,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?”
Premium Packages
A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.
“One could practically host an full two days just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe the structured learning and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to lead a session for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and coaching.
“The purpose is for the teacher to assess whichever aspect is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. May I present a situation for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”
Next Steps
Feedback from the first event will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to a longer period, or trying out alternative workshop formats.
“I anticipate that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in collaboration with big conventions.”
