Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters manage Dungeons & Dragons games in historic castles in England and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a structured way to address these questions, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The first session is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are thousands of YouTube videos on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction alongside peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Ticket Packages

Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The starting package includes one of four courses:

• Core Techniques: Covers the essentials of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at DMs who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes two days of training divided across a weekend.

“The classes are created so that you leave with usable skills, enhanced belief in your abilities, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are taught by a pair of experts. Worldbuilding is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the art of worldbuilding.

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

“Various attendees plan to create their own D&D actual play and present their narratives with the world, others want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This marks the debut of the program, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their immersive experiences.

“You could almost run an complete event just on consultation sessions for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the practical exercises is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to run a game for a small group plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The purpose is for the instructor to evaluate any element is interested in: I struggle with improv or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and receive input on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to obtain critique and information on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Input from the first event will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we do this very often,” Carl stated. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We’re very happy with current developments and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in partnership with large gatherings.”