Keith Baker along with Monte Cook Are Instructing Classes at Dungeon Master University

Since 2018, a specialized event organizer has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among long-time dungeon masters who infrequently find the chance to participate as players themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began crafting a organized method to tackle these topics, which led to the establishment of Dungeon Master University. The inaugural event 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 philosophy was that there’s just no substitute face-to-face interaction alongside fellow DMs, where direct communication with expert teachers and your fellow DMs likely in comparable situations and aim to level up their game,” noted the program's dean.

Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can choose from options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, depending on the level of access they desire with the instructors. The base tier includes selection from four classes:

• Foundational Skills: Focuses on the essentials of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around designing extended campaigns.
• Worldbuilding: Emphasizes the art of setting design.
• Industry Advancement: Aimed at DMs who seek to understand more about the tabletop profession.

Each course includes eight hours of training split over two days.

“The classes are designed so that you depart having tangible results, increased self-assurance, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl explained. “It's more than presentations and they go beyond recorded content. These are sessions that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the week after and put into practice in your regular session.”

Seasoned Educators

Most classes are led by a pair of experts. Universe creation is led by the founder of Monte Cook Games and a renowned campaign designer, together instructing the craft of setting creation.

Professional development presents several experts, such as a puzzle design specialist, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is intended to deliver focused advice to students with particular aims.

“Various attendees want to launch their own D&D actual play and share their stories with the world, some of them aim to release and write original content,” Carl said. “Some just want to ask, What does it take to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Can anyone do it?”

Higher Tiers

A $1.5K enhanced option offers access to a introductory event, a introductory package, and a half-hour consultation appointment with one of the faculty. This constitutes the inaugural DMU session, though the organizers has previously run Castle Days during breaks between game sessions at their premium gatherings.

“One could practically host an complete event just on consultation sessions for career game masters,” Carl observed. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – In my opinion the structured learning and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.”

The $2.5K premium option offers an 60-minute private session and the chance to lead a session for five players plus one of the faculty members, who will then provide notes and coaching.

“The goal is for the instructor to assess whatever the DM is concerned with: I have difficulty with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scene for you and obtain advice on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Perhaps they want to get feedback and information on a particular setting that they’ve been building.”

Next Steps

Input from the debut workshop will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that likely modifications could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I hope that we do this very often,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a given year, in different cities, and in different countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're extremely satisfied with what we’re seeing and I believe it would be fantastic to be able to conduct this in conjunction with big conventions.”