Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at DMU

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among career game masters who infrequently find the chance to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the organizers began designing a structured way to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of DMU. The inaugural event is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where direct communication with expert teachers and other game masters likely in a similar position and aim to enhance their abilities,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, according to the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Career Building: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes multiple sessions of classwork spread over 48 hours.

“The workshops are created so that you walk away with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are taught by duo of instructors. Universe creation is guided by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.

Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The additional faculty is meant to deliver focused advice to participants with definite objectives.

“Various attendees aim to start their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them want to publish and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What does it take to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K gold tier includes access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I believe it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2.5K platinum tier includes an 60-minute private session and the chance to lead a session for five players plus an instructor, who will then offer feedback and coaching.

“The purpose is for the faculty member to evaluate whichever aspect is concerned with: I struggle with improv or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. May I present a scenario for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the first event will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, making it longer to a longer period, or testing varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we conduct these frequently,” Carl expressed. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a single year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The feedback has been really terrific. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to do this in conjunction with big conventions.”