🔗 Share this article Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the organizers began crafting a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl. Workshop Options and Ticket Packages Game masters can select options ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes: Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of managing a session. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games. Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Every class includes two days of training spread over a weekend. “The classes are created so that you leave with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your regular session.” Expert Instructors Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design. Professional development includes several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives. “Certain participants aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, others plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events. “One could practically host an full two days just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I think the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to receive input and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.” Future Plans Input from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements. “I expect that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in collaboration with big conventions.”
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in the UK and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the organizers began crafting a systematic approach to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where real-time interaction with expert teachers and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl. Workshop Options and Ticket Packages Game masters can select options ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes: Foundational Skills: Teaches the basics of managing a session. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games. Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design. Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession. Every class includes two days of training spread over a weekend. “The classes are created so that you leave with tangible results, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl said. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your regular session.” Expert Instructors Most classes are instructed by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design. Professional development includes several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives. “Certain participants aim to start their own real-play series and share their stories with the world, others plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is this achievable?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier provides access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between adventures at their castle events. “One could practically host an full two days just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of each attendee's hours – I think the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and instruction. “The aim is for the teacher to review whichever aspect is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to receive input and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.” Future Plans Input from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or testing varied class arrangements. “I expect that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in different cities, and in different countries. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in collaboration with big conventions.”