Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing immersive events where professional dungeon masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in ancient fortresses in England and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The first session is planned for early January 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction in the company of fellow DMs, where real-time interaction with faculty instructors and other game masters likely in the same boat and aim to improve their skills,” explained Jason Carl.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Dungeon Masters can select tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes one of four courses:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Centers on building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Professional Development: Aimed at DMs who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of training spread over a weekend.

“The courses are created so that you walk away with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the next week and put into practice in your local game.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are led by two professors. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and the creator of Eberron, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding.

Career building presents several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.

“Certain participants aim to start their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Advanced Options

A $1.5K enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their castle events.

“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus an instructor, who will then give comments and coaching.

“The aim is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Input from the first event will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we conduct these very often,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in conjunction with large gatherings.”