Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are highly favored among forever DMs who rarely get the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began designing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is set for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that nothing compares to an in-person experience alongside other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and other game masters who are probably in the same boat and also want to improve their skills,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Workshop Options and Ticket Packages
Dungeon Masters can choose from options ranging from $995 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Teaches the fundamentals of leading a game.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
- Setting Creation: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
- Industry Advancement: Designed for game masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
Every class includes eight hours of classwork divided across a weekend.
“The classes are structured so that you depart having usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they’re not just static videos. These classes that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the next week and implement in your regular session.”
Seasoned Educators
The majority of workshops are instructed by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is guided by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, both teaching the skill of universe design.
Industry advancement features multiple instructors, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with specific goals.
“Certain participants plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, some of them plan to produce and write original content,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”
Higher Tiers
A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This marks the debut of the program, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.
“It would be possible to organize an entire weekend just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for five players plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.
“The aim is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scenario for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to receive input and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”
Coming Developments
Responses from the first event will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.
“I expect that we conduct these very often,” Carl expressed. “I would love to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a given year, in various locations, and in different countries. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with the results so far and I think it would be wonderful to be able to do this in partnership with major events.”
