Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where experienced game masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at an American castle venue. The full-service getaways are highly favored among career game masters who rarely get the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.
In response, the coordinators began developing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.
“There are numerous digital guides on any topic and learn quite a lot, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces an in-person experience in the company of peers in game mastering, where direct communication with expert teachers and your fellow DMs who are probably in comparable situations and aim to improve their skills,” stated the program's dean.
Available Classes and Pricing Tiers
Dungeon Masters can select options ranging from $995 to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:
- Foundational Skills: Teaches the essentials of managing a session.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
- Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the art of setting design.
- Career Building: Aimed at game masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.
Each course includes eight hours of classwork spread over 48 hours.
“The classes are structured so that you leave with usable skills, increased self-assurance, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “These aren't simple talks and they’re not just static videos. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”
Professional Teachers
Most classes are led by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is taught by Monte Cook and Keith Baker, both teaching the art of worldbuilding.
Career building presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is designed to deliver focused advice to attendees with particular aims.
“Certain participants want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”
Higher Tiers
A $1,500 enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This represents the debut of the program, though the company has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.
“You could almost run an complete event just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of each attendee's hours – I believe 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 includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for a small group plus an instructor, who will then give comments and guidance.
“The goal is for the teacher to evaluate whatever the DM is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and obtain advice on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to receive input and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.”
Coming Developments
Feedback from the debut workshop will help shape subsequent DMU events. Carl said that likely modifications could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing different seminar structures.
“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to organize these in collaboration with major events.”
