Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Teaching Classes at DMU

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs manage fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from experts on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began crafting a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The inaugural event is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“There are countless online tutorials on any topic and gain significant knowledge, but the philosophy was that there’s just no substitute a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with expert teachers and your peers likely in a similar position and seek to level up their game,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Dungeon Masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, according to the amount of contact they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes a choice of four workshops:

• Skill Building: Covers the essentials of managing a session.
• Story Arc Development: Is dedicated to designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to dungeon masters who want to learn more about the roleplaying business.

Each course includes two days of instruction spread over a weekend.

“The classes are created so that you walk away with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can attend, learn from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

The majority of workshops are instructed by a pair of experts. Setting design is guided by Monte Cook and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the skill of universe design.

Career building presents several experts, such as Elisa Teague, an entertainment professional, and a pioneering DM. The additional faculty is meant to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals.

“Various attendees want to launch their own D&D actual play and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and create new material,” Carl explained. “Several only seek to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar gold tier includes access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run similar events during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“It would be possible to organize an full two days just on office hours for professional dungeon masters,” Carl said. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I believe the coursework and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 platinum tier provides an hour of one-on-one time and the chance to manage an adventure for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance.

“The goal is for the faculty member to assess whichever aspect is focused on: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl explained. “Alternatively they want to receive input and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Coming Developments

Input from the debut workshop will help guide future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, extending the program to a longer period, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we conduct these very often,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I feel it would be fantastic to be able to do this in partnership with large gatherings.”