Keith Baker and Monte Cook Will Lead Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where experienced game masters run Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in Britain and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The full-service getaways are highly favored among forever DMs who seldom have the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the planners began crafting a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“There are countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session alongside other dungeon masters, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your peers often in a similar position and also want to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to $2,500, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
• Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes multiple sessions of training spread over a weekend.

“The courses are structured so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your local game.”

Seasoned Educators

Many sessions are led by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to deliver focused advice to attendees with definite objectives.

“Some of them want to launch their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, several aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is it for everyone?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option includes access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – In my opinion the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and coaching.

“The aim is for the instructor to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and get feedback on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Responses from the first event will help shape upcoming academy workshops. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to 72 hours, or experimenting with varied class arrangements.

“I hope that we host such events regularly,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a given year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I think it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”