Monte Cook and Keith Baker Will Lead Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs lead D&D games in historic castles in England and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who seldom have the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your peers who are probably in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” noted Jason Carl.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can opt for packages ranging from $995 to $2.5K, depending on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Teaches the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Centers on crafting long-running games.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Aimed at game masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The classes are created so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and implement in your home campaign.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are instructed by duo of instructors. Universe creation is taught by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Professional development presents four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to participants with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar premium package offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I think the formal instruction and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K top package offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus an instructor, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to review whichever aspect is concerned with: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a situation for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Input from the debut workshop will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl said that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I expect that we do this regularly,” Carl stated. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a calendar year, in various locations, and in various nations. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to do this in conjunction with large gatherings.”