Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where expert DMs lead fantasy roleplaying games in historic castles in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a organized method to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is planned for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction alongside other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from packages ranging from $995 to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the level of access they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:

• Skill Building: Teaches the basics of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Aimed at DMs who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of training split over 48 hours.

“The workshops are designed so that you leave with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they’re not just static videos. These are sessions that you can attend, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the following week and apply in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are led by two professors. Universe creation is guided by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Industry advancement includes several experts, such as an author on gaming puzzles, Clint McElroy, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to provide specialized information to attendees with definite objectives.

“Certain participants want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K premium package provides access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – In my opinion the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The purpose is for the teacher to assess whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with improvisation or I get blocked in this kind of combat situation. May I present a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the debut workshop will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we do this frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The response has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to conduct this in partnership with major events.”