Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from experts on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the coordinators began designing a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of DMU. The first session is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“You can watch countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” stated the program's dean.
Workshop Options and Ticket Packages
Game masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the level of access they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes selection from four classes:
- Skill Building: Teaches the essentials of managing a session.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
- Setting Creation: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
- Industry Advancement: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.
Each course includes multiple sessions of classwork split over a weekend.
“The courses are designed so that you depart having tangible results, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “These aren't simple talks and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your home campaign.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are led by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.
Professional development presents four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with specific goals.
“Certain participants want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, several want to publish and write original content,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Advanced Options
A $1.5K gold tier offers access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.
“It would be possible to organize an complete event just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the coursework 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 $2,500 premium option offers an extended personal consultation and the chance to lead a session for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction.
“The aim is for the instructor to assess whichever aspect is concerned with: I have difficulty with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Can I run a situation for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”
Next Steps
Input from the first event will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.
“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl stated. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in different cities, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in partnership with big conventions.”
