Keith Baker and Monte Cook Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master University

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been running immersive events where professional dungeon masters run D&D games in ancient fortresses in Britain and at an American castle venue. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the opportunity to participate as players themselves, and they often ask for tips from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a organized method to address these questions, which led to the founding of DMU. The first session is planned for the start of 2026 at Oglethorpe University.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing compares to an in-person experience together with peers in game mastering, where direct communication with faculty instructors and your fellow DMs who are probably in the same boat and aim to level up their game,” explained the dean of Dungeon Master University.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

DMs can choose from options ranging from $995 to $2,500, depending on the amount of contact they desire with the professionals. The starting package includes a choice of four workshops:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of managing a session.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Setting Creation: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at game masters who aim to explore more about the tabletop profession.

All workshops includes two days of instruction split over two days.

“The courses are created so that you depart having tangible results, enhanced belief in your abilities, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and apply in your regular session.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are led by two professors. Worldbuilding is taught by an industry veteran and Keith Baker, both teaching the craft of setting creation.

Career building includes four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, a podcast co-host, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is designed to provide specialized information to students with particular aims.

“Various attendees want to launch their own live gameplay show and display their adventures with the world, some of them aim to release and develop fresh ideas,” Carl said. “Several only seek to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a introductory event, 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 similar events during breaks between adventures at their castle events.

“One could practically host an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for career game masters,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of all participants' schedule – I believe the structured learning and the lab work is extremely important – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar top package offers an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for five players plus a teacher, who will then offer feedback and guidance.

“The goal is for the faculty member to review any element is focused on: I struggle with improvisation or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and get feedback on what my strengths and weaknesses are?” Carl said. “Or maybe they want to obtain critique and guidance on a specific world that they’ve been building.”

Coming Developments

Input from the debut workshop will help determine upcoming academy workshops. Carl suggested that possible changes could include increasing consultation time, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with different seminar structures.

“I anticipate that we conduct these very often,” Carl said. “I would love to see numerous academy events in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The reception has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with current developments and I believe it would be amazing to be able to do this in conjunction with major events.”