Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Classes at Dungeon Master Academy

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. These all-inclusive trips are widely appreciated among career game masters who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the planners began developing a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the founding of the Dungeon Master Academy. The first session is scheduled for the start of 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“You can watch thousands of YouTube videos on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and aim to level up their game,” noted the program's dean.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can select options ranging from just under $1,000 to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the level of access they desire with the professionals. The base tier includes a choice of four workshops:

• Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of leading a game.
• Campaign Building: Is dedicated to crafting long-running games.
• Worldbuilding: Highlights the art of setting design.
• Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who want to learn more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes eight hours of classwork spread over two days.

“The classes are structured so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can participate in, learn from, and then go right back home the next week and apply in your local game.”

Professional Teachers

Many sessions are taught by a pair of experts. Setting design is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.

Professional development includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is meant to offer targeted guidance to participants with definite objectives.

“Various attendees plan to create their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, several plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with a teacher. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their immersive experiences.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I think the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the possibility to lead a session for five players plus an instructor, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The goal is for the instructor to evaluate any element is concerned with: I have difficulty with improv or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. May I present a scene for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to receive input and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been creating.”

Next Steps

Input from the debut workshop will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I expect that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in different countries. The reception has been really terrific. We’re very happy with the results so far and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to do this in collaboration with large gatherings.”