Monte Cook along with Monte Cook Are Teaching Sessions at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters lead D&D games in historic castles in Britain and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and crafting riddles to managing conflicts at the table.

In response, the coordinators began developing a systematic approach to address these questions, which led to the creation of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is scheduled for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view numerous digital guides on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session in the company of fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your peers often in the same boat and seek to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can choose from tiers ranging from just under $1,000 to $2.5K, according to the degree of interaction they desire with the experts. The entry-level option includes selection from four classes:

• Skill Building: Focuses on the basics of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the crafting of environments.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

Every class includes two days of training divided across a weekend.

“The workshops are structured so that you depart having tangible results, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl noted. “These aren't simple talks and they exceed pre-recorded material. These classes that you can attend, learn from, and then return to your group the following week and put into practice in your regular session.”

Expert Instructors

Most classes are led by two professors. Setting design is guided by the founder of Monte Cook Games and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Career building includes four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The expanded teaching staff is intended to offer targeted guidance to students with specific goals.

“Some of them plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several aim to release and create new material,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? What capabilities that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Premium Packages

A $1,500 enhanced option offers access to a opening gathering, a starter kit, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with an instructor. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, 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 said. “I'm not certain if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the lab work is highly beneficial – but I believe it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The $2,500 top package provides an 60-minute private session and the opportunity to run a game for a small group plus a teacher, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The purpose is for the instructor to evaluate any element is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. May I present a scenario for you and receive input on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Feedback from the inaugural session will help determine future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to 72 hours, or trying out different seminar structures.

“I hope that we host such events frequently,” Carl stated. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in multiple places, and in various nations. The reception has been extremely positive. We're quite pleased with current developments and I feel it would be amazing to be able to do this in conjunction with large gatherings.”