🔗 Share this article Monte Cook and Keith Baker Are Teaching Classes at Dungeon Master University Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the coordinators began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University. “It's possible to view countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your peers who are probably in the same boat and aim to improve their skills,” noted Jason Carl. Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes one of four courses: Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of managing a session. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games. Setting Creation: Concentrates on the crafting of environments. Career Building: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business. Each course includes two days of classwork divided across a weekend. “The classes are created so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can join, learn from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your regular session.” Professional Teachers Many sessions are led by two professors. Universe creation is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the art of worldbuilding. Professional development presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims. “Certain participants plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?” Higher Tiers A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events. “You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The $2.5K premium option provides an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and instruction. “The aim is for the faculty member to review any element is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. May I present a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been building.” Coming Developments Input from the debut workshop will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or testing varied class arrangements. “I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been extremely positive. We’re very happy with the results so far and I think it would be wonderful to be able to do this in conjunction with large gatherings.”
Since 2018, Tabletop Vacations has been running deeply engaging experiences where experienced game masters lead fantasy roleplaying games in ancient fortresses in England and at a U.S. castle resort. The full-service getaways are especially popular among career game masters who seldom have the moment to join in the game themselves, and they often look for guidance from seasoned professionals on topics ranging from spontaneous storytelling and crafting riddles to handling difficult situations at the table. In response, the coordinators began crafting a systematic approach to answer these inquiries, which led to the creation of Dungeon Master University. The debut workshop is scheduled for early January 2026 at Oglethorpe University. “It's possible to view countless online tutorials on virtually any subject and acquire valuable insights, but the concept was that there’s just no substitute an in-person experience alongside peers in game mastering, where direct communication with seasoned educators and your peers who are probably in the same boat and aim to improve their skills,” noted Jason Carl. Course Offerings and Pricing Tiers Dungeon Masters can select packages ranging from nearly a thousand dollars to $2.5K, based on the degree of interaction they desire with the instructors. The entry-level option includes one of four courses: Core Techniques: Focuses on the basics of managing a session. Long-Term Game Planning: Centers on crafting long-running games. Setting Creation: Concentrates on the crafting of environments. Career Building: Tailored to game masters who seek to understand more about the roleplaying business. Each course includes two days of classwork divided across a weekend. “The classes are created so that you walk away with tangible results, probably greater confidence, and many practical techniques,” Carl explained. “They’re not just lectures and they go beyond recorded content. These classes that you can join, learn from, and then return to your group the following week and implement in your regular session.” Professional Teachers Many sessions are led by two professors. Universe creation is taught by the founder of Monte Cook Games and the creator of Eberron, both teaching the art of worldbuilding. Professional development presents four different teachers, such as a puzzle design specialist, a podcast co-host, and a pioneering DM. The expanded teaching staff is meant to offer targeted guidance to students with particular aims. “Certain participants plan to create their own live gameplay show and present their narratives with the world, several want to publish and create new material,” Carl said. “Others simply wish to ask, What's the path to be a DM at a program like a castle event? What are the skills that I need? Is this achievable?” Higher Tiers A fifteen hundred dollar premium package includes access to a welcome reception, a welcome gift pack, and a 30-minute office hour appointment with one of the faculty. This marks the inaugural DMU session, though the company has previously run similar events during breaks between campaigns at their castle events. “You could almost run an complete event just on one-on-one meetings for professional dungeon masters,” Carl mentioned. “It's unclear if that’s the best use of everybody’s time – I think the structured learning and the practical exercises is highly beneficial – but I suspect it’s going to be one of the most popular parts of the program.” The $2.5K premium option provides an hour of one-on-one time and the opportunity to manage an adventure for several participants plus an instructor, who will then provide notes and instruction. “The aim is for the faculty member to review any element is focused on: Hey I don’t do well with improv or I encounter obstacles in this kind of combat situation. May I present a situation for you and obtain advice on my areas of proficiency and challenge?” Carl explained. “Or maybe they want to get feedback and guidance on a particular setting that they’ve been building.” Coming Developments Input from the debut workshop will help determine subsequent DMU events. Carl mentioned that potential adjustments could include expanding one-on-one sessions, lengthening the event to three days, or testing varied class arrangements. “I hope that we conduct these frequently,” Carl said. “I really want to see multiple Dungeon Master Universities in a single year, in different cities, and in various nations. The feedback has been extremely positive. We’re very happy with the results so far and I think it would be wonderful to be able to do this in conjunction with large gatherings.”