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

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters lead Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is scheduled for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and other game masters likely in comparable situations and seek to improve their skills,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select tiers ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Highlights the development of worlds.
• Professional Development: Designed for dungeon masters who want to learn more about the gaming industry.

All workshops includes eight hours of classwork spread over a weekend.

“The workshops are created so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the next week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are led by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Career building features multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to participants with specific goals.

“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier offers access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an full two days just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of all participants' schedule – In my opinion the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier provides an extended personal consultation and the chance to run a game for a small group plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate whatever the DM is interested in: I have difficulty with improvisation or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Input from the debut workshop will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we host such events very often,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The response has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I think it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with major events.”