Keith Baker and Monte Cook Are Instructing Workshops at DMU

Beginning in 2018, a specialized event organizer has been hosting immersive events where experienced game masters run D&D games in ancient fortresses in England 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 experts on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to dealing with tough scenarios at the table.

In response, the planners began designing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the founding of DMU. The debut workshop is planned for January 2-3, 2026 at a university in Atlanta.

“It's possible to view thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the concept was that nothing truly replaces face-to-face interaction together with peers in game mastering, where there’s live engagement with seasoned educators and other game masters likely in comparable situations and also want to level up their game,” stated Jason Carl.

Workshop Options and Cost Levels

Game masters can opt for options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to two thousand five hundred dollars, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of leading a game.
• Story Arc Development: Focuses around building persistent adventures.
• Worldbuilding: Concentrates on the crafting of environments.
• Career Building: Designed for dungeon masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business.

Every class includes multiple sessions of classwork divided across a weekend.

“The classes are structured so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and a lot of usable tools,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can join, learn from, and then return to your group the next week and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Professional Teachers

Most classes are instructed by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by Monte Cook and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the art of worldbuilding.

Professional development includes several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The extra instructors is designed to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims.

“Some of them plan to create their own live gameplay show and share their stories with the world, several plan to produce and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, How do I get to be a DM at an event like D&D in a Castle? Which abilities that I need? Is this achievable?”

Premium Packages

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option offers access to a introductory event, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This represents the first Dungeon Master Academy, though the team has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their castle events.

“You could almost run an entire weekend just on one-on-one meetings for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I don’t know if that’s the most effective utilization of everybody’s time – I think the formal instruction and the practical exercises is too valuable – but I think it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The $2,500 premium option provides an 60-minute private session and the possibility to run a game for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then give comments and guidance.

“The aim is for the instructor to assess whatever the DM is focused on: I have difficulty with improv or I encounter obstacles in specific fight encounters. May I present a situation for you and receive input on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Perhaps they want to receive input and information on a specific world that they’ve been developing.”

Coming Developments

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl mentioned that possible changes could include expanding one-on-one sessions, extending the program to 72 hours, or trying out varied class arrangements.

“I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl stated. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a calendar year, in various locations, and in various nations. The reception has been extremely positive. We're extremely satisfied with the results so far and I believe it would be amazing to be able to conduct this in collaboration with large gatherings.”