🔗 Share this article Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at DMU Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the planners began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of DMU. The inaugural event is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” explained Jason Carl. Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops: Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Emphasizes the crafting of environments. Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession. All workshops includes multiple sessions of instruction split over 48 hours. “The workshops are structured so that you depart having usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers The majority of workshops are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation. Professional development features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to attendees with specific goals. “Certain participants want to launch their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?” Advanced Options A $1,500 premium package offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “One could practically host an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know 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 think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching. “The purpose is for the teacher to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.” Coming Developments Input from the first event will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements. “I expect that we host such events regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”
Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improv and puzzle design to dealing with tough scenarios at the table. In response, the planners began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of DMU. The inaugural event is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus. “There are numerous digital guides on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with fellow DMs, where direct communication with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” explained Jason Carl. Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can opt for tiers ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops: Skill Building: Teaches the fundamentals of running D&D. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Universe Design: Emphasizes the crafting of environments. Industry Advancement: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession. All workshops includes multiple sessions of instruction split over 48 hours. “The workshops are structured so that you depart having usable skills, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the following week and put into practice in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers The majority of workshops are instructed by two professors. Setting design is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation. Professional development features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The expanded teaching staff is intended to provide specialized information to attendees with specific goals. “Certain participants want to launch their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl explained. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like a castle event? What capabilities that I need? Is it for everyone?” Advanced Options A $1,500 premium package offers access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with an instructor. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “One could practically host an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know 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 think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 premium option offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to run a game for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and coaching. “The purpose is for the teacher to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been developing.” Coming Developments Input from the first event will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, extending the program to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements. “I expect that we host such events regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in multiple countries. The response has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I believe it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in collaboration with large gatherings.”