🔗 Share this article Monte Cook and Monte Cook Are Instructing Sessions at DMU Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters manage D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the coordinators began developing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University. “There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” stated the program's dean. Workshop Options and Cost Levels DMs can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes selection from four classes: Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D. Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Worldbuilding: Highlights the development of worlds. Career Building: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry. Every class includes eight hours of instruction divided across 48 hours. “The classes are structured so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers The majority of workshops are taught by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design. Career building features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims. “Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an entire weekend just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the formal instruction and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package offers an extended personal consultation and the possibility to lead a session for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance. “The purpose is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.” Future Plans Input from the debut workshop will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats. “I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I think it would be wonderful to be able to do this in collaboration with large gatherings.”
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been organizing immersive events where experienced game masters manage D&D games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The comprehensive packages are especially popular among career game masters who rarely get the opportunity to actually play themselves, and they often ask for tips from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from improv and creating challenges to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the coordinators began developing a structured way to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of DMU. The debut workshop is scheduled for January 2-3, 2026 at Oglethorpe University. “There are thousands of YouTube videos on almost every theme and gain significant knowledge, but the idea was that nothing truly replaces a live, hands-on session together with other dungeon masters, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your fellow DMs often in a similar position and aim to improve their skills,” stated the program's dean. Workshop Options and Cost Levels DMs can choose from packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2,500, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The starting package includes selection from four classes: Foundational Skills: Focuses on the basics of running D&D. Campaign Building: Centers on designing extended campaigns. Worldbuilding: Highlights the development of worlds. Career Building: Designed for DMs who aim to explore more about the gaming industry. Every class includes eight hours of instruction divided across 48 hours. “The classes are structured so that you depart having immediate practical outcomes, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These workshops that you can participate in, absorb insights from, and then go right back home the week after and apply in your home campaign.” Professional Teachers The majority of workshops are taught by two professors. Worldbuilding is led by an industry veteran and a renowned campaign designer, jointly leading the skill of universe design. Career building features four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and an early professional game master. The additional faculty is designed to provide specialized information to participants with particular aims. “Various attendees want to launch their own real-play series and display their adventures with the world, some of them plan to produce and develop fresh ideas,” Carl stated. “Some just want to ask, What's the path to be a DM at something like an immersive experience? Which abilities that I need? Can anyone do it?” Premium Packages A fifteen hundred dollar enhanced option provides access to a welcome reception, a starter kit, and a half-hour consultation appointment with an instructor. This represents the debut of the program, though the team has previously run comparable workshops during breaks between campaigns at their immersive experiences. “You could almost run an entire weekend just on office hours for career game masters,” Carl mentioned. “I don’t know if that’s the best use of each attendee's hours – In my opinion the formal instruction and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I think it’s going to be among the most sought-after parts of the program.” The $2,500 top package offers an extended personal consultation and the possibility to lead a session for five players plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and guidance. “The purpose is for the faculty member to review whatever the DM is interested in: Hey I don’t do well with improvisation or I feel stuck in this kind of combat situation. Can I run a scenario for you and get feedback on where I excel and need improvement?” Carl said. “Alternatively they want to get feedback and advice on a definite universe that they’ve been developing.” Future Plans Input from the debut workshop will help guide subsequent DMU events. Carl said that possible changes could include adding more office hours, lengthening the event to three days, or experimenting with alternative workshop formats. “I expect that we conduct these regularly,” Carl expressed. “I truly hope to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in various locations, and in multiple countries. The feedback has been overwhelmingly favorable. We're quite pleased with current developments and I think it would be wonderful to be able to do this in collaboration with large gatherings.”