Monte Cook along with Keith Baker Are Instructing Workshops at DMU
Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters run fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in the UK and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. These all-inclusive trips are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the moment to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and puzzle design to handling difficult situations at the table.
In response, the planners began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The first session is set for January 2-3, 2026 at an Atlanta campus.
“There are countless online tutorials on almost every theme and learn quite a lot, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where real-time interaction with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in the same boat and seek to improve their skills,” noted the dean of Dungeon Master University.
Available Classes and Ticket Packages
DMs can opt for options ranging from $995 to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the professionals. The entry-level option includes one of four courses:
- Foundational Skills: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
- Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games.
- Setting Creation: Highlights the crafting of environments.
- Professional Development: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.
Each course includes two days of training split over 48 hours.
“The courses are created so that you leave with immediate practical outcomes, enhanced belief in your abilities, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can attend, gain knowledge from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your regular session.”
Expert Instructors
Many sessions are taught by two professors. Setting design is taught by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.
Industry advancement features several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, Clint McElroy, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to deliver focused advice to participants with particular aims.
“Some of them aim to start their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at something like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”
Advanced Options
A $1.5K gold tier includes access to a opening gathering, a introductory package, and a brief one-on-one appointment with a teacher. This represents the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences.
“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the hands-on activities is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”
The $2.5K top package includes an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to lead a session for five players plus a teacher, who will then provide notes and instruction.
“The goal is for the teacher to review any element is interested in: I struggle with spontaneous decisions or I encounter obstacles in certain battle scenarios. Can I run a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to receive input and guidance on a definite universe that they’ve been creating.”
Future Plans
Feedback from the inaugural session will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include increasing consultation time, making it longer to a longer period, or testing alternative workshop formats.
“I hope that we conduct these very often,” Carl stated. “I would love to see several DMU sessions in a single year, in multiple places, and in different countries. The feedback 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 major events.”
