Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy
Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running deeply engaging experiences where expert DMs run fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who rarely get the moment to actually play themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the organizers began developing a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The debut workshop is set for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs often in comparable situations and seek to level up their game,” stated the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Available Classes and Pricing Tiers
DMs can opt for tiers ranging from $995 to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes selection from four classes:
- Skill Building: Focuses on the fundamentals of managing a session.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games.
- Setting Creation: Concentrates on the development of worlds.
- Career Building: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the gaming industry.
All workshops includes eight hours of instruction divided across a weekend.
“The workshops are created so that you leave with usable skills, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then head back to your table the following week and implement in your local game.”
Professional Teachers
The majority of workshops are taught by duo of instructors. Setting design is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, jointly leading the craft of setting creation.
Industry advancement presents multiple instructors, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is designed to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims.
“Various attendees want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, others want to publish and create new material,” Carl explained. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like a castle event? Which abilities that I need? Is it for everyone?”
Higher Tiers
A $1.5K enhanced option includes access to a opening gathering, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the debut of the program, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.
“One could practically host an full two days just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – I believe the formal instruction and the lab work is extremely important – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”
The twenty-five hundred dollar platinum tier offers an 60-minute private session and the chance to manage an adventure for a small group plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and instruction.
“The aim is for the faculty member to evaluate any element is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I get blocked in specific fight encounters. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and information on a specific world that they’ve been building.”
Next Steps
Input from the first event will help guide upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to a longer period, or testing varied class arrangements.
“I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see numerous academy events in a given year, in various locations, and in different countries. The response has been really terrific. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I think it would be amazing to be able to do this in conjunction with major events.”
