Monte Cook and Monte Cook Will Lead Workshops at Dungeon Master Academy

Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been hosting immersive events where professional dungeon masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in old manors in England and at Landoll’s Mohican Castle. The comprehensive packages are highly favored among long-time dungeon masters who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often seek advice from the pros on topics ranging from improvisation and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table.

In response, the organizers began developing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the establishment of the Dungeon Master Academy. The debut workshop is planned for the start of 2026 at an Atlanta campus.

“It's possible to view countless online tutorials on any topic and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that nothing compares to face-to-face interaction together with fellow DMs, where there’s live engagement with expert teachers and your peers likely in a similar position and also want to improve their skills,” stated Jason Carl.

Available Classes and Pricing Tiers

Game masters can select options ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes selection from four classes:

• Core Techniques: Covers the essentials of leading a game.
• Long-Term Game Planning: Focuses around crafting long-running games.
• Universe Design: Emphasizes the development of worlds.
• Industry Advancement: Tailored to DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry.

Every class includes multiple sessions of classwork divided across 48 hours.

“The classes are created so that you depart having usable skills, probably greater confidence, and numerous applicable methods,” Carl said. “They’re not just lectures and they exceed pre-recorded material. These are sessions that you can join, absorb insights from, and then return to your group the week after and put into practice in your home campaign.”

Expert Instructors

Many sessions are instructed by two professors. Setting design is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design.

Professional development includes four different teachers, such as an author on gaming puzzles, an entertainment professional, and Hunter Fell. The extra instructors is designed to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims.

“Various attendees aim to start their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, others want to publish and create new material,” Carl stated. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at an event like an immersive experience? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?”

Advanced Options

A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a introductory package, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the debut of the program, though the organizers has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between adventures at their premium gatherings.

“You could almost run an full two days just on consultation sessions for expert DMs,” Carl observed. “I'm not certain if that’s the optimal application of all participants' schedule – In my opinion the formal instruction and the hands-on activities is too valuable – but I suspect it’s going to be a highly favored parts of the program.”

The twenty-five hundred dollar premium option includes an extended personal consultation and the opportunity to manage an adventure for a small group plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and instruction.

“The aim is for the teacher to review whatever the DM is concerned with: Hey I don’t do well with spontaneous decisions or I feel stuck in specific fight encounters. Could I demonstrate a scene for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl detailed. “Alternatively they want to receive input and advice on a particular setting that they’ve been creating.”

Future Plans

Feedback from the inaugural session will help shape future Dungeon Master University sessions. Carl said that potential adjustments could include adding more office hours, extending the program to 72 hours, or testing alternative workshop formats.

“I anticipate that we do this regularly,” Carl expressed. “I really want to see several DMU sessions in a calendar year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The response has been really terrific. We’re very happy with what we’re seeing and I feel it would be wonderful to be able to organize these in partnership with large gatherings.”