Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Will Lead Sessions at DMU
Beginning in 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run Dungeons & Dragons games in old manors in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the chance to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.
In response, the coordinators began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The inaugural event is planned for early January 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“You can watch countless online tutorials on almost every theme and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience together with other dungeon masters, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and aim to enhance their abilities,” explained the program's dean.
Workshop Options and Pricing Tiers
Dungeon Masters can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the level of access they desire with the experts. The base tier includes selection from four classes:
- Core Techniques: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
- Story Arc Development: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
- Universe Design: Highlights the art of setting design.
- Industry Advancement: Designed for dungeon masters who aim to explore more about the roleplaying business.
Each course includes eight hours of training spread over 48 hours.
“The workshops are created so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, increased self-assurance, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These workshops 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
Many sessions are led by duo of instructors. Worldbuilding is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.
Industry advancement includes four different teachers, such as Elisa Teague, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with definite objectives.
“Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and present their narratives with the world, some of them plan to produce and write original content,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like D&D in a Castle? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”
Premium Packages
A $1.5K gold tier includes access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one 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 premium gatherings.
“One could practically host an full two days just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”
The $2.5K platinum tier provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to lead a session for several participants plus one of the faculty members, who will then offer feedback and instruction.
“The aim is for the instructor to evaluate whatever the DM is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I get blocked in certain battle scenarios. Could I demonstrate a situation for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”
Future Plans
Input from the inaugural session will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or trying out varied class arrangements.
“I expect that we do this very often,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with what we’re seeing and I think it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in conjunction with large gatherings.”